Authorities in New York have unveiled charges against 14 individuals accused of operating a highly organised 'porch pirate' ring that systematically stole high-value packages by allegedly hacking the FedEx delivery system.
The Sophisticated Theft Operation
According to an indictment announced by Suffolk County prosecutors, the criminal enterprise was masterminded by 29-year-old Andrickson Jerez from the Bronx. The group is accused of using insider knowledge from within FedEx to target parcels containing expensive electronic devices.
Prosecutors allege that Jerez accessed FedEx tracking data, obtaining recipient names, addresses, and detailed contents of parcels. This information was then allegedly passed to a network of 'runners' who would intercept the packages from doorsteps across Long Island.
The operation, which ran for approximately two years, focused on packages sent by telecom giants Verizon and AT&T through FedEx, containing items like smartphones and tablets.
From Doorstep to Black Market
The stolen goods were allegedly taken to a staging hub on University Avenue in the Bronx. From there, Jerez and his alleged lieutenants would verify the devices' identification numbers before moving them to a 'stash house' on Quimby Avenue.
The final step in the alleged criminal chain involved Jerez and his 48-year-old father, Juan Baez, selling the stolen devices to 35-year-old Fawaz Hameed, who owns a Manhattan electronics store.
In some instances, the thefts turned violent. Runners are accused of "forcibly seizing packages from drivers or residents", including one incident where a FedEx driver was violently pushed to steal a consignment of 15 Samsung tablets. In another bold move, a runner allegedly used fake identification at a FedEx depot to claim a package containing an iPad Pro.
Legal Consequences and Community Impact
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney stated: "For two years, this alleged porch pirate ring plagued our community and built a criminal enterprise on the backs of Suffolk families and businesses."
He emphasised that the indictments demonstrate their commitment to "track down and hold accountable those who commit crimes against Suffolk County residents, regardless of how extensive their operation."
Jerez faces multiple felony charges including grand larceny and enterprise corruption, with a potential prison sentence of up to 25 years if convicted. Baez is charged with felony conspiracy and could face up to four years in prison.
The investigation revealed what prosecutors describe as a sophisticated criminal outfit that utilised its access to delivery system information to methodically target and steal thousands of electronic devices worth significant value.
