A New York man has filed a federal lawsuit against a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, alleging misconduct related to a property dispute involving a mobile food truck and several parcels of land.
Plaintiff Arthur Robertson Jr. filed a complaint against LaDonna T. Powell, an officer with the United States Customs and Border Protection. Robertson claims that he is the rightful owner of various properties, including a mobile food truck operated under Renegade Vegan LLC. He states that he acquired all rights to the truck on May 30, 2019, from Elhaj Group, Inc., and received a certificate of title from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Robertson alleges that, under duress and coercion by Powell—whom he had a prior personal relationship with—he entered into a contract on August 31, 2020, transferring property rights to her in exchange for financial considerations totaling $57,000.
According to the complaint, Powell failed to honor the terms of that agreement by not returning the title and instead obtained duplicate titles from the DMV in October 2022 and March 2023. Robertson claims these actions clouded his ownership rights and interfered with his ability to use the property.
The lawsuit also alleges that Powell used her position as a federal officer to pressure him and that she attempted to involve law enforcement in gaining access to his property. Robertson further claims that she facilitated theft from his premises and engaged in a broader pattern of conduct that included fraud, breach of contract, duress, and conversion, causing him emotional distress.
Robertson seeks multiple forms of relief, including rescission of the 2020 contract, invalidation of duplicate titles, recognition of his ownership rights, return of disputed property, a prohibition against Powell approaching his premises, and compensation for emotional harm.
The plaintiff is representing himself in this matter. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID 1:25-cv-02590-RPK-JAM.