A federal jury in Ohio (United States) charged four citizens of Ecuadorian nationality with crimes related to the theft of jewelry and Apple brand products in shopping centers in several states of the North American country.

Defendants Alexander Wilson D., 39 years old; Jonathan Eduardo R., 33 years old; Álvaro Oswaldo L., 27 years old; and Gustavo Daniel V., 36 years old; They allegedly sold the items on the black market.

A statement from the Department of Justice indicated that between January and September 2023, the subjects conspired to carry out the theft of interstate shipments and transport stolen goods.

“This office will seek to hold accountable anyone who steals from and endangers the hardworking men and women who deliver our products and mail. Whether it is UPS, FedEx, the US Postal Service or any other delivery provider, we will not tolerate attacks on people just doing their jobs,” said United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker.

Three of the defendants entered that country on tourist visas and established a base in California with the other defendant. From there, they coordinated to travel by plane and car to other states, including Ohio, Virginia and Maryland, to go to malls and shopping centers, including jewelry stores and Apple stores, among others.

Ecuadorians monitored these centers and tracked deliveries from UPS, FedEx and other carriers to determine delivery patterns. The products were then stolen from vans, repackaged and sent to California for resale on the international black market.

The affidavit states that the men were guarding a FedEx van in Ohio on September 19 and that one of them tried to distract the driver in a hallway while the others forced their way into the truck and stole 300 Apple watches.

Three days later, they again monitored a UPS truck to steal the goods. Other thefts include $300,000 worth of diamonds and other jewelry from a UPS truck in Maryland, as well as thousands of dollars worth of jewelry from a UPS truck in Virginia. (JO)