Christopher Sanchez Matos, iPhone Theft, Rhode Island 2022

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New York Man Pleads Guilty in iPhone Theft Scam

A brazen scheme to defraud AT&T out of between $250,000 and $500,000 worth of Apple iPhones has landed a New York man in hot water. Christopher Sanchez Matos, 34, of Bronx, NY, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

According to court documents, Matos and his co-conspirators posed as authorized AT&T customers to obtain iPhones from Walmart stores in Rhode Island and elsewhere. The group would then receive money from a retail store in the Bronx for each iPhone obtained through the scheme.

Matos, who supplied members of the conspiracy with personal identification information for AT&T Wireless customers, faces sentencing on October 20, 2022. Co-conspirators Ruben Gomez, 24; Oliver Mercedes, 24; and Javier Rodriguez, 26, all from Bronx, NY, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

The defendants’ sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Milind M. Shah. The matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service.

The iPhone scam, which targeted AT&T customers, is a stark reminder of the need for vigilance when it comes to protecting personal identification information. As the investigation revealed, Matos and his co-conspirators were able to obtain iPhones worth hundreds of thousands of dollars using fake identities.

Matos is currently awaiting sentencing and faces the possibility of prison time for his role in the conspiracy. The exact sentence will be determined by the federal district judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case serves as a warning to those who would seek to exploit the system for personal gain. As the investigation demonstrated, the consequences of such actions can be severe and far-reaching.