Eight Men Charged for Their Involvement in the Theft of Over 23,000 iPhones from Miami International Airport

Eight men have been arrested and charged by indictment with two separate conspiracies involving the April 2, 2016 theft of over 23,000 Apple iPhones valued at approximately $6,791,636.81 from the Miami International Airport, LAN Storage facility. 

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Mark Selby, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) made the announcement.

Yoan Perez, 34, of Miami, Leonel Padron Bello, 35, of Miami, Emilio Herrera, 41, of Miami, Ricardo Gonzalez, 52, of Miami, Rasiel Perez, 45, of Miami, Eloy Garcia, 42, of Miami Springs, Misael Cabrera Ruiz, 37, of Miami, and Rodolfo Urra, 36, of Cutler Bay, were indicted on charges related to their involvement in a conspiracy to steal and unlawfully sell Apple iPhones.

According to court records, on April 2, 2016, Yoan Perez and Leonel Padron Bello, took part in a conspiracy and stole over 23,000 Apple iPhones valued at approximately $6,791,636.81 from the Miami International Airport, LAN Cargo storage facility.  According to the indictment, an unknown co-conspirator drove a tractor and trailer to the LAN Cargo facility and purported to be a driver from a shipping company, used fictitious documents, and left the airport with the stolen iPhones.  The indictment further charges that on various dates from May 2016 through September 2016, Yoan Perez, Leonel Padron Bello, Emilio Herrera, Ricardo Gonzalez, Rasiel Perez, Eloy Garcia, Misael Cabrera Ruiz, and Rodolfo Urra conspired together and orchestrated a series of sales of the stolen Apple iPhone 5S and 6S devices.

The United States Attorney’s Office warns all consumers to be cautious when purchasing Apple iPhones from unauthorized individuals, as such individuals may be selling stolen iPhones.  If members of the community have additional information related to the crimes charged in this indictment, they are encouraged to contact the FBI.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, ICE-HSI, and the Miami Dade Police Department Airport Investigative Unit.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cary O. Aronovitz. 

An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.