Thirteen Charged in International Ring Targeting Cell Phone Shipments for Theft

Defendants Allegedly Used Bribery and Hacking to Steal Thousands of Devices Across the U.S.

Thirteen individuals have been charged for their alleged roles in a nationwide and international criminal network that stole thousands of shipments of iPhones and other electronic devices, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced today. The defendants, operating in multiple states and internationally, allegedly hacked tracking systems, bribed retail employees, and ran black-market sales operations to traffic stolen smartphones and other high-value electronics.

“These defendants are alleged to have worked together as part of an international ring to steal thousands of expensive electronic devices, which caused millions of dollars of losses to the victims. They are alleged to have done so by harnessing technology through the use of computer scripts which gave them access to shipping information, including individuals’ names and their home addresses. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue these types of criminals no matter where in the world they are and seek justice for their victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna.

The Defendants and Charges

The following individuals have been charged in a criminal complaint unsealed today:

• Demetrio Reyes Martinez, a/k/a “CookieNerd,” 37, of the Dominican Republic
• Andrickson Jerez, 28, of Bronx, NY
• Edickson Lora Castillo, 24, of New York, NY
• Raimond Cabrera De Leon, 31, of New York, NY
• Luis Marte Tavares, 33, of Brooklyn, NY
• Frederick Duverge Guzman, 26, of New York, NY
• Julio Vasquez Sanchez, a/k/a “BotTrack,” 30, of Brooklyn, NY
• Alejandro Then Castillo, 45, of Paterson, NJ
• Wilson Peralta Tavarez, 28, of Belleville, NJ
• Ecker Montero Hernandez, 25, of Paterson, NJ
• Jean Luis Diaz Dominguez, a/k/a “Botija,” 24, of Paterson, NJ
• Luis Nunez, 23, of Paterson, NJ
• Joel Suriel, a/k/a “La Melma,” 31, of Brooklyn, NY

All defendants have been charged with conspiracy to transport and receive stolen property (Count One). Additionally:

• Then Castillo and Peralta Tavarez face wire fraud conspiracy charges (Count Two).
• Jerez and Lora Castillo are separately charged with transportation of stolen property (Counts Three and Four).

“As alleged, the defendants, both here and abroad, victimized American customers and businesses alike by targeting, tracking, and stealing their valuable electronic shipments. The new-age ‘porch pirates,’ these accused criminals tailored their alleged scheme to the modern times, but were stopped short of doing so successfully. HSI New York and our law enforcement partners continue to adapt as brazen bad actors relentlessly try — and fail — to find new illicit money-making methods. I thank HSI Newark, the NYPD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the FBI, and our many counterparts for their unified and unwavering support,” stated Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), New York Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso.

How the Theft Ring Operated

According to court filings and statements made in court, the group engaged in large-scale theft of electronic shipments, primarily iPhones, iPads, Samsung phones, and other high-value devices from FedEx and other shipping carriers.

The thefts were orchestrated through a two-pronged strategy:

1. Hacking and Data Scraping
   • Reyes Martinez and his associates developed and used automated computer scripts to scrape tracking data from FedEx and a major U.S. cellular provider (Victim-1).
   • This allowed them to identify high-value shipments and their destinations.
2. Bribing Insiders
   • Retail employees, including Then Castillo and Peralta Tavarez, were allegedly paid bribes to provide confidential order and shipping data.
   • The leaked data included customer names, order details, tracking numbers, and delivery addresses.

“These alleged members of this international crime ring traveled the country stealing goods, for monetary profit; compromising customers’ privacy and hijacking the cellular providers’ business flow.” FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly warns that “No matter how elaborate or invasive a criminal ring may be, we will break the chain of criminality and bring the perpetrators to justice."

The criminal operation was structured in layers, each playing a specific role:

• "Dispatchers" (Lora Castillo, Duverge Guzman, and Vasquez Sanchez) sold stolen tracking information to thieves on the ground.
• "Runners" (Montero Hernandez, Nunez, and Diaz Dominguez) used this information to intercept and steal shipments nationwide.
• "Fences" operated large-scale black-market resale locations in New York City:
  • Jerez, Cabrera De Leon, and Marte Tavares ran a major fence operation in the Bronx, where stolen devices were constantly bought and sold.
  • Suriel managed a Brooklyn warehouse, where bulk shipments of stolen electronics were processed.
• Then Castillo and Peralta Tavarez provided insider information in exchange for bribes.

Stolen Devices Sold on the Black Market

The stolen electronics were resold domestically and internationally, with some shipments intercepted by law enforcement. In one incident, after a batch of stolen iPhones was seized by FedEx security, Nunez called FedEx customer service to complain that “his” iPhones had been stolen—an act that ultimately helped investigators track the network.

The defendants face significant legal penalties:

• Conspiracy to transport and receive stolen property (Count One): Up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the illicit gain.
• Wire fraud conspiracy (Count Two): Up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the illicit gain.
• Transportation of stolen property (Counts Three and Four): Up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the illicit gain.

The investigation was led by multiple federal and local agencies, including:

• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Field Office
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Newark
• New York City Police Department (NYPD)
• Union County Prosecutor’s Office

Authorities also credited PEDATEC (Dominican Republic's High Technology Crimes Prosecutor's Office) and HSI’s Newark Field Office for international collaboration.

Package Theft Surge and Law Enforcement Task Force

In 2024, New Jersey experienced a surge in package thefts, with over 400 identified cases targeting cell phones. In response, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office partnered with New Jersey State Police Real Time Crime Center North and FBI Newark to track and dismantle organized theft rings.

The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. More details are expected as the case progresses.