Apple Crime Log: Federal Raids, Fake 49ers, and Find My Busts
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It’s time once again for our semi-regular dive into online police and news reports to find another batch of Apple-related crime stories. In this edition, the feds seize former US Representative Eric Swalwell’s Apple devices, an iPad’s “ping” leads cops to the suspect, and a fake 49er used FaceTime calls to swindle unsuspecting women.
Feds Seize Former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s iPhone and MacBook Pro
Federal agents have seized multiple devices from former US Representative Eric Swalwell (D). According to a search warrant obtained by The San Francisco Standard, the FBI’s Public Corruption and Civil Rights Squad seized Swalwell’s iPhone, MacBook Pro, and charging cables on Saturday, August 15, at 8:25 p.m. The seizure came as the former congressman was searched at San Francisco International Airport and his home in Washington was raided.
The warrant was filed on August 13 in the Northern District of California and it was assigned to Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson. The warrant was issued under federal statute 18 U.S.C. § 242, which is often used when a law enforcement officer abuses their power.
If convicted, a defendant may face a sentence of up to life in prison, according to the Justice Department. The statute is most often filed against law enforcement officers who deprive people of their rights. A former federal prosecutor told The Standard that it’s unclear how Swalwell could be charged under this law, although he speculated on a couple of possibilities, noting that we don’t yet have all the facts.
Swalwell, once the front-runner in California’s November Governor race, resigned from Congress and dropped from the race for governor in April, after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. Swalwell is reportedly facing a civil rights investigation concerning allegations of sexual assault.
Cops in Search of Man Over Purchase of Two MacBook Pros With Stolen Credit Card
Police in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, are looking for a man they say stole a credit card from a vehicle and used it to buy two MacBook Pro computers from Best Buy.
WPXI reports the two computers are valued at $5,000.
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the man, seen below.
Tracking of iPad ‘Find My’ Signal Leads to Burglary Arrest
Thirty-three-year-old John Michael Auer Jr., is accused of burglary at an Oregon apartment complex, after cops were able to track an iPad taken in the burglary.
KPTV reports that Clackamas County police were following a Find My ping from an iPad taken in a southwest Portland burglary the day before. When officers spotted a man matching the suspect’s description, he high-tailed it back to his apartment, where police apprehended him after a brief struggle.
In addition to the stolen iPad, police recovered several other stolen items, including three guitars, an amplifier, two watches, an empty firearm case, a duffel bag containing prescription medication and eyeglasses, power tools, banking documents, family photographs, and a college diploma.
Police also discovered a gun, ammunition, and various documents, including driver’s licenses, passports, birth certificates, checks, and bank cards.
Auer was indicted on several charges, including burglary, theft, theft of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and resisting arrest.
Stolen AirPods Tracked to Scofflaw’s Home
A 19-year-old North Carolina man has been arrested and charged, after a woman tracked a pair of her stolen AirPods to the man’s residence.
WLOS reports the man allegedly broke into the woman’s car and stole several items, including the AirPods, an iPad Pro, a wallet, a purse and a medicine bag.
She followed the Find My signal to the man’s home, and after a “verbal confrontation,” police arrived and arrested the man. (Never confront them bad guys yourself folks, call the cops, it’s what they do.)
Joseph William Flack is charged with felony breaking and entering a motor vehicle, felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods/property.
Fake NFL Player Used FaceTime Calls in Swindle Scheme
A man who impersonated a San Francisco 49ers player and real estate investor in order to swindle women often used three-way FaceTime calls to show off bogus financial gains, say federal prosecutors.
The Justice Department says 35-year-old Daejon Labrayae Love would meet women on dating apps and use fictitious investments to defraud them. Love, say prosecutors, “used phone applications to create fictitious bank and investment accounts and balances which Love showed victims to legitimize the scheme.”
His partner in crime, 18-year-old Taylor Jamie Chan, would pose as his “financial advisor” on the three-way calls.
“Love convinced many of the victims they were in sincere romantic relationships with Love, that he was a sophisticated investor, and that Chan was his investment adviser who helped Love grow a fortune worth tens of millions of dollars. Love had romantic relationships with many of the victims and told them he wanted to build wealth and a future together. Love advertised nonexistent investment vehicles and claimed these investments would generate massive returns for both him and his victims.”
The duo ran the con for four years, until authorities arrested them on August 24. They were both charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.
