Idaho iPhone Heist: Cali Crew Admits Identity Theft

BOISE – Four California residents are facing the music after pleading guilty to a calculated fraud scheme that saw them swindling iPhones out of unsuspecting victims in Idaho. Jeromy Reeves, 27, Karina Flores, 22, Brittany Terry, 20, and Joseph Jancu, 21, all admitted their roles in the operation, according to Acting United States Attorney Rafael Gonzalez.

The scheme, uncovered by the Boise Police Department and brought before a federal grand jury in September 2016, was spearheaded by Reeves, who orchestrated the operation from California. He tasked Flores and Terry with creating fake California driver’s licenses, using their own photos but slapping on the stolen identifying information of innocent people. The goal? To bypass security and walk away with brand-new iPhones.

Once in the Boise area, Reeves directed Flores and Terry to hit up cellular service providers. Armed with the bogus IDs, they opened accounts in the names of the identity theft victims, effectively signing them up for contracts and racking up bills for devices they never requested. The group then pocketed the 32 iPhones and other devices, with plans to haul them back to California for resale. It was a classic case of interstate fraud, fueled by brazen deception.

Joseph Jancu’s role wasn’t in crafting the fake IDs, but in facilitating the crime. He knowingly drove his co-conspirators from store to store, providing the transportation needed to execute their scheme. While he wasn’t directly involved in the fraud at the point of sale, his knowledge and assistance made him an integral part of the operation, and he’s now facing the consequences.

Sentencing dates have been set before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge. Terry and Jancu are slated to appear on June 14, 2017, while Reeves and Flores will face Judge Lodge on June 15, 2017. The exact penalties remain to be seen, but federal fraud charges carry significant weight, and these four are likely looking at prison time.

The Boise Police Department’s investigation brought this operation to a halt, preventing further victimization. This case serves as a stark reminder that identity theft is a serious crime with real-world consequences, and that law enforcement agencies are actively working to dismantle these schemes and bring the perpetrators to justice. The investigation remains closed.