By: Richard L. Smith
Federal authorities have charged 13 individuals in connection with an elaborate international scheme to steal and resell shipments of iPhones and other electronic devices across the United States, according to information released by the U.S. Department of Justice. 
The suspects, who operated as part of a highly coordinated network, are accused of targeting FedEx and other shipping carriers to intercept valuable electronic shipments.
Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna for the District of New Jersey announced the charges, which include conspiracy to transport and receive stolen property, wire fraud conspiracy, and transportation of stolen property.
The defendants allegedly used two main tactics to locate and steal shipments: deploying automated computer scripts to extract data from public tracking systems and bribing corrupt employees of a major U.S. cellular provider to gain access to confidential customer information, including order details, tracking numbers, and delivery addresses.
The scheme operated in multiple layers, with certain members, referred to as "dispatchers," obtaining and selling stolen delivery information, while others, known as "runners," used that information to physically steal the packages.
Some defendants managed fence locations—warehouses or storefronts where stolen electronics were collected, sold, and distributed.
Authorities say one major fencing operation was run out of a residential building in the Bronx, where stolen devices arrived in a near-constant flow.
Another operation in Brooklyn allegedly received bulk shipments of stolen goods from across the country, including iPhones, iPads, and Samsung devices. In one instance, when FedEx security intercepted stolen iPhones from a shipment sent by two of the suspects, one allegedly filed a complaint with FedEx customer service, claiming that his phones had been stolen.
Among those charged, two individuals worked at a retail store of the victimized cellular provider and allegedly accepted bribes in exchange for supplying customer order details to the criminal network.
Others in the ring were responsible for selling delivery information to runners or directing them to specific locations to offload the stolen goods.
The charges carry serious legal consequences. 
The conspiracy to transport and receive stolen property charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the financial gain or loss from the offense. The wire fraud conspiracy charge carries a potential 20-year prison sentence with similar financial penalties.
Federal authorities continue their investigation into the broader operation, and additional arrests or charges may follow as more details emerge.