Viral stolen iPhone video charges and $200,000 MacBook thefts in the Apple Crime Blotter

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Men accused of using SBA loans for Apple purchases, pardons for Apple-related offenders, and iCloud leads to charges against the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation in this week's Apple Crime Blotter.




The latest in an occasional AppleInsider series, looking at news from the world of Apple-related crime:

Men charged with using disaster funds to buy iPhones

Two Massachusetts men have been brought up on federal charges alleging they fraudulently obtained disaster loans from the Small Business Administration for a scheme that involved buying large numbers of iPhones for resale.

According to the Department of Justice press release, the two 24-year-olds have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for the alleged scheme to "use stolen identity information of United States citizens to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans." The funds were allegedly used to open bogus bank accounts, which the government says the two men used to spend $250,000 on the iPhones.

False accusation of iPhone theft, focus of viral video, may lead to charges

A video went viral days after Christmas, depicting a woman accusing the person taking the video, a 14-year-old boy, of stealing her iPhone. The teenager, who is the son of Grammy-winning jazz musician Keyon Harrold, shot the video in the lobby of a New York City hotel, repeatedly stating that the phone was his until the woman ultimately tried to grab the phone from him.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Keyon Harrold (@keyonharrold)

The New York Post reports the New York Police Department says itplans to charge the woman from the video-- who has not been identified -- with harassment and assault, and possibly grand larceny or attempted robbery.

Several presidential pardon recipients faced Apple-related charges

President Donald Trump's slew of pardons in his final weeks in office included multiple individuals who had been convicted of crimes related to Apple products and services. Paul Manafort and Roger Stone, both former advisers to Trump's 2016 campaign, had been convicted in part on the basis of evidence obtained from their iPhone accounts.

In addition, former Congressman Duncan Hunter of California, who also received a pardon, had pled guilty to improperly using campaign funds, including on two separate occasions that he made purchases at Apple Store locations. Margaret Hunter, the Congressman's estranged wife and onetime codefendant, was pardoned as well.

iCloud evidence used in the indictment of New York's "Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation."

A reputed criminal organization known as Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation, which includes the well-known rap artist known as Casanova, was indicted by the Justice Department on December 1. The group of 18 was charged with a wide variety of federal crimes -- including racketeering, murder, narcotics, firearms, and fraud charges -- and according to New York magazine, evidence came from the iCloud account of one of the members.

That iCloud included a detailed chart of the organization's hierarchy and each member's responsibilities. The chart also included references to "A LIST OF ENEMIES THAT HAS TO BE CRUSHED ON SIGHT."

University data administrator convicted of $200,000 in MacBook thefts

A man who works in data administration at the University of California, Berkeley has pled guilty to charges of stealing more than $200,000 worth of MacBooks. The Sacramento Bee states the 41-year-old university employee had purchased the computers for the use of faculty and staff, but instead sold them, always to the same buyer.

The man had a connection to purchase MacBooks directly from Apple, access to a university-issued credit card, and the ability to make purchases without question as long as they didn't exceed a certain threshold each month. In addition to his guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate, the man agreed to make restitution.

$12,000 in Apple products stolen from Delaware Best Buy

Five men were caught on security footage stealing $12,000 worth of Apple products, which appeared to be display items, from a Best Buy location in Dover, Delaware, in early December. The Dover Post reports the men cut security cables, grabbed the items, and fled the store in a silver Infiniti G35x.

Two in Delaware arrested for $3,700 Apple purchase from Best Buy

In other news involving Best Buy and Apple product theft in Delaware, two men were arrested in mid-December on charges of theft, identity theft and conspiracy. Delaware State Police say the two men stole two purses and used the credit cards and gift cards therein for illegal purchases.

Troopers "recovered over $1,200 in gift cards purchased from Target and over $3,700 of Apple products purchased at Best Buy using the stolen credit cards."

Courier in Ireland pleads guilty to stealing iPhone delivery

A 52-year-old man who worked for a courier firm admitted in court that he stole 13 iPhone 11 handsets from a loading bay in February. According to The Independent the man, in the process of pleading guilty, admitted that he had sought treatment for gambling addiction.

Clerk charged with illegally recording government meeting with iPhone


The village clerk in the Westchester County town of Pomona has been charged with official misconduct after police say she illegally recorded an executive session of the Village Board with her iPhone, which had been hidden on the floor behind a desk. The Rockland/Westchester Journal News writes the scheme was caught when the phone rang during the meeting, and the woman's voice could be heard on the phone's recording. The woman's attorney told the newspaper that his client has been "wrongfully accused."

Man accused of stealing iPad from office of police association

A 49-year-old man has been arrested and charged with three counts of burglary, after police say he was caught on camera entering closed businesses in one particular building and taking electronics. According to Scoop Nashville, one of the alleged thefts, of an iPad Pro and iPad accessories, was from the offices of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police.

Have an Apple crime story for us? Email AppleInsider and tell us about it.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 16
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 16
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    svanstrom said:
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    Another “Karen” incident. I saw the video. Put her away for a couple of years. And her actual iPhone was returned shortly after by the Uber driver whose automobile she had lost the phone in.
    h4y3sdysamoriawatto_cobrachiapulseimages
  • Reply 3 of 16
    lkrupp said:
    svanstrom said:
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    Another “Karen” incident. I saw the video. Put her away for a couple of years. And her actual iPhone was returned shortly after by the Uber driver whose automobile she had lost the phone in.
    So in your world putting someone in jail for "a couple of years" for making a false accusation of theft is justice? What do you recommend for actually stealing a phone? Death by hanging? Electrocution? Life without parole?

    "Karen" ... overused BS. It would appear a more accurate guess is the accuser is just a garden variety a-hole racist.

    One more word of advice for you - don't spit on the sidewalk. You may get a few years in jail for it.
    Dogpersonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 16
    robabarobaba Posts: 228member
    Racism can’t exist without an imbalance of power and an attempt to leverage that power.  In this case bringing false charges of theft against a young black male would have a vastly worse outcome than against an older white individual such as the “victim” herself.  Yeah, she should be brought up on charges of defamation and assault.  If jail time is determined appropriate, the woman should be made to serve the time.  No more passes for racist white folk.
    Xeddysamoriasvanstromchia
  • Reply 5 of 16
    XedXed Posts: 2,519member
    tommikele said:
    lkrupp said:
    svanstrom said:
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    Another “Karen” incident. I saw the video. Put her away for a couple of years. And her actual iPhone was returned shortly after by the Uber driver whose automobile she had lost the phone in.
    So in your world putting someone in jail for "a couple of years" for making a false accusation of theft is justice? What do you recommend for actually stealing a phone? Death by hanging? Electrocution? Life without parole?

    "Karen" ... overused BS. It would appear a more accurate guess is the accuser is just a garden variety a-hole racist.

    One more word of advice for you - don't spit on the sidewalk. You may get a few years in jail for it.
    I agree with Tommikele. We need more racists attacking minorities without consequence in this country.
    edited January 2021 dysamoria
  • Reply 6 of 16
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    tommikele said:
    lkrupp said:
    svanstrom said:
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    Another “Karen” incident. I saw the video. Put her away for a couple of years. And her actual iPhone was returned shortly after by the Uber driver whose automobile she had lost the phone in.
    So in your world putting someone in jail for "a couple of years" for making a false accusation of theft is justice? What do you recommend for actually stealing a phone? Death by hanging? Electrocution? Life without parole?

    "Karen" ... overused BS. It would appear a more accurate guess is the accuser is just a garden variety a-hole racist.

    One more word of advice for you - don't spit on the sidewalk. You may get a few years in jail for it.
    Read the entire reports and story. Watch the video. She’s being charged by the NYC prosecutor with assault and grand larceny. And the ONLY way to deal with a-hole racists is to put the fear of God into them, fine the hell out of them or put them in prison.
    edited January 2021 maximara
  • Reply 7 of 16
    XedXed Posts: 2,519member
    lkrupp said:
    tommikele said:
    lkrupp said:
    svanstrom said:
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    Another “Karen” incident. I saw the video. Put her away for a couple of years. And her actual iPhone was returned shortly after by the Uber driver whose automobile she had lost the phone in.
    So in your world putting someone in jail for "a couple of years" for making a false accusation of theft is justice? What do you recommend for actually stealing a phone? Death by hanging? Electrocution? Life without parole?

    "Karen" ... overused BS. It would appear a more accurate guess is the accuser is just a garden variety a-hole racist.

    One more word of advice for you - don't spit on the sidewalk. You may get a few years in jail for it.
    Read the entire reports and story. Watch the video. She’s being charged by the NYC prosecutor with assault and grand larceny. And the ONLY way to deal with a-hole racists is to put the fear of God into them, fine the hell out of them or put them in prison.
    What's extra funny about tommikele's claims about Karen being "overused BS", is that she identifed herself as "SoHo Karen in a rambling CNN interview where she claims she was the victim in all of this and that she was the one being assaulted, despite being on several videos attacking the 14yo.
    edited January 2021
  • Reply 8 of 16
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,092member
    tommikele said:
    lkrupp said:
    svanstrom said:
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    Another “Karen” incident. I saw the video. Put her away for a couple of years. And her actual iPhone was returned shortly after by the Uber driver whose automobile she had lost the phone in.
    So in your world putting someone in jail for "a couple of years" for making a false accusation of theft is justice? What do you recommend for actually stealing a phone? Death by hanging? Electrocution? Life without parole?

    "Karen" ... overused BS. It would appear a more accurate guess is the accuser is just a garden variety a-hole racist.

    One more word of advice for you - don't spit on the sidewalk. You may get a few years in jail for it.
    Agree.  Putting someone away for a couple years for a false accusation may be too much.  However, putting this racist s**t away for a couple years for assaulting a 14-year old child along with his father, and arguably a hate-crime should be grounds to lock her up for a couple years.  It's obvious she has a destructive pattern going on here and some time in the tank may give her a serious reality-check.
    dysamoriaDogpersonchiamaximara
  • Reply 9 of 16
    XedXed Posts: 2,519member
    sflocal said:
    tommikele said:
    lkrupp said:
    svanstrom said:
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    Another “Karen” incident. I saw the video. Put her away for a couple of years. And her actual iPhone was returned shortly after by the Uber driver whose automobile she had lost the phone in.
    So in your world putting someone in jail for "a couple of years" for making a false accusation of theft is justice? What do you recommend for actually stealing a phone? Death by hanging? Electrocution? Life without parole?

    "Karen" ... overused BS. It would appear a more accurate guess is the accuser is just a garden variety a-hole racist.

    One more word of advice for you - don't spit on the sidewalk. You may get a few years in jail for it.
    Agree.  Putting someone away for a couple years for a false accusation may be too much.  However, putting this racist s**t away for a couple years for assaulting a 14-year old child along with his father, and arguably a hate-crime should be grounds to lock her up for a couple years.  It's obvious she has a destructive pattern going on here and some time in the tank may give her a serious reality-check.
    She had previously been arrested two other times in 2020 alone and she's only 22yo now. Maybe this third arrest for assault will be a wake up call for her.
    Dogperson
  • Reply 10 of 16
    dysamoriadysamoria Posts: 3,430member
    Xed said:
    sflocal said:
    tommikele said:
    lkrupp said:
    svanstrom said:
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    Another “Karen” incident. I saw the video. Put her away for a couple of years. And her actual iPhone was returned shortly after by the Uber driver whose automobile she had lost the phone in.
    So in your world putting someone in jail for "a couple of years" for making a false accusation of theft is justice? What do you recommend for actually stealing a phone? Death by hanging? Electrocution? Life without parole?

    "Karen" ... overused BS. It would appear a more accurate guess is the accuser is just a garden variety a-hole racist.

    One more word of advice for you - don't spit on the sidewalk. You may get a few years in jail for it.
    Agree.  Putting someone away for a couple years for a false accusation may be too much.  However, putting this racist s**t away for a couple years for assaulting a 14-year old child along with his father, and arguably a hate-crime should be grounds to lock her up for a couple years.  It's obvious she has a destructive pattern going on here and some time in the tank may give her a serious reality-check.
    She had previously been arrested two other times in 2020 alone and she's only 22yo now. Maybe this third arrest for assault will be a wake up call for her.
    I’m not sure the “three strikes” law is enforced against white people... 🤔 
    svanstromchia
  • Reply 11 of 16
    dysamoriadysamoria Posts: 3,430member
    Also, I can’t let this pardon thing go without comment. It’s like he doesn’t understand that a pardon isn’t meant to pardon criminals *for the sake of pardoning criminals*. It’s meant to help those who have been mistreated by the system, not help serial abusers of society continue to get away with it.
    fred1
  • Reply 12 of 16
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,092member
    Xed said:
    Agree.  Putting someone away for a couple years for a false accusation may be too much.  However, putting this racist s**t away for a couple years for assaulting a 14-year old child along with his father, and arguably a hate-crime should be grounds to lock her up for a couple years.  It's obvious she has a destructive pattern going on here and some time in the tank may give her a serious reality-check.
    She had previously been arrested two other times in 2020 alone and she's only 22yo now. Maybe this third arrest for assault will be a wake up call for her.
    She's been arrested multiple times, but not really arrested so it's apparent that it's not making her change her ways.  Going from jail to "prison" is the next logical step for her.
    maximara
  • Reply 13 of 16
    lkrupp said:
    tommikele said:
    lkrupp said:
    svanstrom said:
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    Another “Karen” incident. I saw the video. Put her away for a couple of years. And her actual iPhone was returned shortly after by the Uber driver whose automobile she had lost the phone in.
    So in your world putting someone in jail for "a couple of years" for making a false accusation of theft is justice? What do you recommend for actually stealing a phone? Death by hanging? Electrocution? Life without parole?

    "Karen" ... overused BS. It would appear a more accurate guess is the accuser is just a garden variety a-hole racist.

    One more word of advice for you - don't spit on the sidewalk. You may get a few years in jail for it.
    Read the entire reports and story. Watch the video. She’s being charged by the NYC prosecutor with assault and grand larceny. And the ONLY way to deal with a-hole racists is to put the fear of God into them, fine the hell out of them or put them in prison.
    You are quite wrong about the charges the NYC DA says they will ask for. Tell me what she stole? I will wait as long as it takes you to figure that one out. The potential charges are harassment and assault and I can almost guarantee you at best they will misdemeanors and the judge will never even consider jail. 

    You are so devoid from reality. She will be properly punished if she is convicted of something and that is a big if and despite your wish to jail her for being a racist that is not quite constitutional. It is always ironic when characters like you rant and rave and advocate it is a great idea to take away the constitutional rights of someone or groups you find repugnant. And that "fear of god" garbage has little place in this other than as part of self-righteous ranting. She does not have a right to assault someone, but she has a constitutional right to speak as she pleases and express her views whether or not others find it morally indefensible. In the America described in the constitution we do not put people in jail for that. Be careful, you never know who they will come for next and it may be you. Have you learned nothing from history or the last four years?
    edited January 2021
  • Reply 14 of 16
    XedXed Posts: 2,519member
    tommikele said:
    lkrupp said:
    tommikele said:
    lkrupp said:
    svanstrom said:
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    Another “Karen” incident. I saw the video. Put her away for a couple of years. And her actual iPhone was returned shortly after by the Uber driver whose automobile she had lost the phone in.
    So in your world putting someone in jail for "a couple of years" for making a false accusation of theft is justice? What do you recommend for actually stealing a phone? Death by hanging? Electrocution? Life without parole?

    "Karen" ... overused BS. It would appear a more accurate guess is the accuser is just a garden variety a-hole racist.

    One more word of advice for you - don't spit on the sidewalk. You may get a few years in jail for it.
    Read the entire reports and story. Watch the video. She’s being charged by the NYC prosecutor with assault and grand larceny. And the ONLY way to deal with a-hole racists is to put the fear of God into them, fine the hell out of them or put them in prison.
    You are quite wrong about the charges the NYC DA says they will ask for. Tell me what she stole? I will wait as long as it takes you to figure that one out. The potential charges are harassment and assault and I can almost guarantee you at best they will misdemeanors and the judge will never even consider jail.

    You are so devoid from reality, it is pathetic. She will be properly punished if she is convicted  and despite your wish to jail her for being a racist that is not quite constitutional. It is always ironic when characters like you rant and rave and advocate it is a great idea to take away the constitutional rights of someone or groups you find repugnant.And that "fear of god" garbage has little place in this other than your own self-righteous ranting. I am willing to be there are many people who think you are what you called her and should be in jail because it. I will defend your constitutional right to be what you called her. It is time for you to quiet down
    I'd like to see where else you've spoken up about other "unconstitutional" prison sentences since this seems oh so very important to you, and since this seems to affect certain people over the others that I'm absolutely sure that you have plenty of internet comments about.


    PS: I understand what you're trying to say in your blanket defense and "whitewashing," but it's probably important for you to know what the Constitution only talks about treason, piracy (quite literally on the high seas), and counterfeiting.
    edited January 2021
  • Reply 15 of 16
    robabarobaba Posts: 228member
    tommikele said:
    lkrupp said:
    tommikele said:
    lkrupp said:
    svanstrom said:
    The woman mentioned in the false accusation case was identified some days ago: https://nypost.com/2020/12/31/miya-ponsetto-22-identified-as-accuser-in-keyon-harrold-jr-case/
    Another “Karen” incident. I saw the video. Put her away for a couple of years. And her actual iPhone was returned shortly after by the Uber driver whose automobile she had lost the phone in.
    So in your world putting someone in jail for "a couple of years" for making a false accusation of theft is justice? What do you recommend for actually stealing a phone? Death by hanging? Electrocution? Life without parole?

    "Karen" ... overused BS. It would appear a more accurate guess is the accuser is just a garden variety a-hole racist.

    One more word of advice for you - don't spit on the sidewalk. You may get a few years in jail for it.
    Read the entire reports and story. Watch the video. She’s being charged by the NYC prosecutor with assault and grand larceny. And the ONLY way to deal with a-hole racists is to put the fear of God into them, fine the hell out of them or put them in prison.
    You are quite wrong about the charges the NYC DA says they will ask for. Tell me what she stole? I will wait as long as it takes you to figure that one out. The potential charges are harassment and assault and I can almost guarantee you at best they will misdemeanors and the judge will never even consider jail. 

    I think Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison of the NYPD has a slightly more informed understanding of what charges might be applicable under New York State law than you do anonymous internet poster.

    You are so devoid from reality. She will be properly punished if she is convicted of something and that is a big if and despite your wish to jail her for being a racist that is not quite constitutional. It is always ironic when characters like you rant and rave and advocate it is a great idea to take away the constitutional rights of someone or groups you find repugnant. And that "fear of god" garbage has little place in this other than as part of self-righteous ranting. She does not have a right to assault someone, but she has a constitutional right to speak as she pleases and express her views whether or not others find it morally indefensible. In the America described in the constitution we do not put people in jail for that. Be careful, you never know who they will come for next and it may be you. Have you learned nothing from history or the last four years?

    Wow-I guess if anyone is going to talk about being “devoid from reality” that would be you.  Bringing someone up on charges of assault, when they clearly assaulted someone on video in front of independent witnesses suddenly becomes a slippery slope argument wherein “everyone (the reader) doesn’t like” has their constitutional rights negated.  What in gods green earth do those two things have in common, outside of a knee jerk reaction against the possibility that a racist MIGHT feel the effects of equal justice under the law?

    Xedmuthuk_vanalingamchia
  • Reply 16 of 16
    fred1fred1 Posts: 1,112member
    dysamoria said:
    Also, I can’t let this pardon thing go without comment. It’s like he doesn’t understand that a pardon isn’t meant to pardon criminals *for the sake of pardoning criminals*. It’s meant to help those who have been mistreated by the system, not help serial abusers of society continue to get away with it.
    Yes, thanks the way it used to be. Now it’s for people who commit crimes, often to benefit the president, and are pardoned because he’s afraid they’ll let the world know the truth if they stay in jail.
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