WASHINGTON, July 8 — The FBI’s Cyber Division issued a warning on January 15, 2025, about organized crime rings that are targeting AI data center construction sites across the United States. The warning, obtained by Reuters, details a pattern of thefts that have hit sites in Virginia, Oregon, Texas, and Ohio. Thieves are making off with copper wiring, servers, and networking equipment worth millions of dollars.
The bureau linked the thefts to Eastern European criminal networks, citing intelligence from Interpol. One ring stole $3 million in equipment from a site in Ashburn, Virginia, in November 2024.
That theft came after a $1.8 million heist at a Meta data center construction site in Fort Worth, Texas, in October 2024. The FBI advised companies to implement enhanced security measures, including biometric access controls and real-time inventory tracking. The bureau’s Criminal Investigative Division is coordinating with local law enforcement to dismantle these rings.
Eastern European Networks and a Growing Threat
The FBI’s January 15 warning represents a formal acknowledgment of a threat. The bureau stated that organized crime rings are specifically targeting AI data center construction sites. Intelligence from Interpol helped the FBI link the thefts to Eastern European criminal networks.
The thefts are not confined to one region. The FBI named Virginia, Oregon, Texas, and Ohio as states where thefts have occurred.
High-Profile Heists
The November 2024 theft in Ashburn, Virginia, stands out for its scale. A ring stole $3 million in equipment from a single construction site. That theft followed a $1.8 million heist at a Meta data center site in Fort Worth, Texas, in October 2024.
The FBI’s warning advised companies to enhance security measures. The bureau specifically recommended biometric access controls and real-time inventory tracking.
Coordination and Next Steps
The FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division is taking the lead in coordinating with local law enforcement agencies across the affected states. The goal is to dismantle the criminal rings. The bureau has not released details on arrests or ongoing investigations. But the coordination with Interpol suggests that the effort to break these networks will extend beyond US borders.
