---
title: "FBI Raided Ducati North America Headquarters"
description: "The FBI confirmed that armed tactical agents raided the headquarters in December, but would not comment on the reason for the raid."
date: "2021-01-08"
modified: "2021-01-08"
authors:
  - name: "Stef Schrader"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/stef-schrader"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/38629/fbi-raided-ducati-north-america-headquarters"
categories:
  - "News"
---

# FBI Raided Ducati North America Headquarters

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2021/01/MY21_DUCATI_MONSTER_PLUS-_37__UC214626_High.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The Federal Bureau of Investigations confirmed to [*Roadracing World*](<https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/fbi-agents-raid-ducati-north-america-headquarters/>) that [Ducati](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/38164/bentley-lamborghini-and-ducati-will-stay-in-the-volkswagen-group>) North America's Mountain View, Calif., offices were raided on December 17. While the FBI would not comment as to the specific reason for the raid, a post from a local on the [*Bay Area Riders Forum*](<https://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=547856>) as well as sources who spoke with [*Asphalt & Rubber*](<https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/ducati-north-america-office-employee-homes-raided-fbi/>) said that agents were searching for financial documents.

Roughly 30 armed [FBI](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/6872/fbi-arrests-volkswagen-executive-on-dieselgate-related-conspiracy-charges>) agents conducted the search, per eyewitnesses who spoke to *Roadracing World*. Only two employees were on site at the start of the raid and three at the end, per *Bay Area Riders Forum* moderator Shawn Keane, who posts as elskipador. Local COVID-19 restrictions have kept most workers out of the office, but Keane [posted](<https://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10705354&postcount=20>) that it was a harrowing experience for whose who were there, as he said that agents pointed pistols at his face. "Never been so scared in my life!” Keane posted of the raid.

![message-editor%2F1610154804625-ducati\_panigalev2\_ambience\_14\_uc101500\_high.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1610154804625-ducati_panigalev2_ambience_14_uc101500_high.jpg>)
**Ducati**

While the FBI did not confirm they were at any other sites, unnamed sources who spoke with *Asphalt & Rubber* said that several high-level Ducati North America employees' homes were searched by FBI agents as well. Those same sources also said that it was related to a financial crime, however, the FBI has not confirmed this nor was *The Drive* able to find any potentially related cases in public federal court records.

The FBI released the same statement to both *Roadracing World* as well as *Asphalt & Rubber*, confirming when they were at Ducati North America's office, but declining to give a reason for the [raid](<https://www.twz.com/36343/from-nasa-to-amtrak-these-are-all-the-government-agencies-with-tactical-teams>):

*“I can confirm that FBI San Francisco was at that location on December 17, 2020, to conduct court-authorized law enforcement activity. As of today’s date, no public records are available. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, I cannot comment further at this time.”*

“It is Ducati North America’s practice to cooperate fully with inquiries from government agencies," Ducati Marketing Director Phil Read told *Roadracing World*. "As part of that cooperation, Ducati North America does not comment on those inquiries.”

*The Drive* also reached out to a Ducati representative for comment, but have not heard back at the time of this writing.

If *you have any additional information as to why the FBI is investigating Ducati North America*, s*end us a note: tips@thedrive.com*

## Author
Stef Schrader is a former senior staff writer for The Drive. She started writing about cars in 2013 after meeting Jalopnik's editor-in-chief at a race track, where Stef can be found at every available opportunity.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefschrader/>)  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/stefthepef>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/stefthepef>)