Castaneda Siblings, Theft of MacBooks, California 2023

Castaneda Siblings Sentenced for Thefts of MacBooks

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Patricia Castaneda, 38, of Redwood City, and her brother Eric Castaneda, 37, also of Redwood City, have been sentenced for their roles in a scheme that involved the theft and interstate sale of Apple MacBooks.

According to court documents, Patricia Castaneda worked in the School of Humanities and Sciences at a private university in Stanford, California. In her position, Patricia Castaneda’s duties included ordering MacBooks for university faculty and staff. In 2009 or 2010, Patricia Castaneda began stealing MacBooks she ordered and selling them for cash.

In approximately February 2016, Patricia Castaneda began giving the stolen MacBooks to Eric Castaneda to sell to an individual named Philip James who, in turn, resold and shipped the MacBooks from Folsom to buyers outside California.

Patricia Castaneda was sentenced to 33 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller for her role in the scheme. In addition, Judge Mueller ordered Patricia Castaneda to pay $4,077,832 in restitution.

Eric Castaneda was also sentenced to 18 months in prison by Judge Mueller for his role in the scheme. He was ordered to pay $2,283,155 in restitution.

This case was a product of an investigation by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen prosecuted the case.

In a separate case, on April 11, 2022, Philip James pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme.

The total cost to the university of MacBooks Patricia Castaneda stole was over $4 million. That amount includes the cost to the university of approximately 800 stolen MacBooks Eric Castaneda sold to James, which was approximately $2.3 million.

Defendant: Patricia Castaneda and Eric Castaneda

Criminal Charges: Theft of MacBooks

City and State: Redwood City, California

Date: January 2023 (sentencing)

Sentence: Patricia Castaneda - 33 months in prison, Eric Castaneda - 18 months in prison

Dollar Amounts: Patricia Castaneda - $4,077,832 in restitution, Eric Castaneda - $2,283,155 in restitution

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/siblings-sentenced-offenses-involving-sale-stolen-macbooks