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Four men are facing charges in connection with the theft of more than $500,000 worth of cellphones and other electronics that were supposed to be delivered to T-Mobile stores in South Florida.
Beginning in at least July of 2024, UPS shipments that were en route to the stores were stolen by the theft ring, which operated in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties, authorities said.
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WATCH HEREAccording to the office of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, the four suspects - Giffton St. Abuyn White, Sheldon Beswick Brown, Christopher Palmer, and Samuel Drummond - stole the items then sold them to a third party for profit.
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T-Mobile launched an internal investigation that traced the stolen goods to California, and by October of 2024 the losses amounted to over $500,000, authorities said.
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office detectives began an investigation in October and discovered 16 thefts had occurred at a UPS hub in Riviera Beach.
Investigators also discovered a fencing operation that was being run out of a recording studio and phone repair shop in Lantana, the sheriff's office said.
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Detectives arrested White, Brown and Palmer, and recovered some stolen property.
Drummond fled the state and has an active warrant, authorities said.
The suspects face charges that include conspiracy to commit racketeering, organized scheme to defraud, dealing in stolen property, unlawful use of a two-way communications device, and grand theft.
