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Defendants Sentenced for Transporting Fraudulently Obtained Phones
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two North Carolina family members, Lal H. Mahtani, 58, of Statesville and Vivek Ramesh Mahtani, 41, of Cornelius, have been sentenced to prison for conspiring to transport fraudulently obtained and stolen new Apple iPhones and other electronic devices to buyers in other states and overseas.
Lal Mahtani received a sentence of 36 months followed by three years of supervised release. His nephew, Vivek Mahtani, received a sentence of 18 months, also followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King, announced the sentencing in federal court before Judge Kenneth D. Bell. Special Agent in Charge Jason Byrnes of the United States Secret Service (USSS) and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) also joined U.S. Attorney King in making the announcement.
According to documents filed in the case, from 2018 through February 2020, the defendants worked together in a scheme to purchase new iPhones and other electronic devices from individuals who had obtained the devices through fraudulent means, often from wireless stores.
The defendants purchased the new iPhones, which were frequently in their sealed packaging at prices substantially below their retail value. Many of the fraudulently obtained devices were purchased by Lal Mahtani at New York Styles, his retail store in Statesville.
The defendants transported the fraudulently obtained devices using a shipping company to other states, including California, Texas, New York, and Georgia, as well as overseas destinations, such as Hong Kong. Vivek Mahtani also sold many of the devices to Cellport, a Charlotte-based business owned and operated by Hamzeh Alasfar and Tayseer Alkhayyat.
The total financial losses resulting from the scheme exceeded $1.5 million, with the defendants shipping more than 1,700 pounds of fraudulently obtained devices.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Cybercrime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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