Photo: AvailableLight / iStock / Getty Images
Prosecutors in Suffolk County, New York, have dismantled a "sophisticated 'porch pirate' criminal organization" that allegedly stole FedEx packages containing electronic devices. Fourteen individuals have been indicted for enterprise corruption and other charges, the Suffolk County Prosecutor's Office announced on Monday (November 24).
The two-year investigation revealed that the theft ring targeted FedEx packages from October 2023 to February 2025. According to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney, the group allegedly hacked into the delivery system to arrange cellphone deliveries under fake names, using random residences as drop-off points without the homeowners' knowledge. The organization included a network of "runners" who retrieved the packages, while others were involved in redistributing the stolen devices.
The prosecutor's office stated that 50 felony charges, including enterprise corruption, grand larceny, identity theft, robbery, and conspiracy, have been filed. In one instance, a defendant forcibly took a package from an elderly woman. The stolen packages were then sold to wholesalers for domestic and international redistribution.
The alleged ringleader, Andricson Jerez, operated the scheme from two locations in the Bronx. Jerez and his network of runners were provided with insider FedEx tracking information, including recipient names and addresses, to facilitate the thefts. Law enforcement recovered over 200 new cellphones, other electronic devices, and more than $100,000 in cash from a Bronx stash house.
Jerez faces multiple charges and was arraigned on the indictment. He is due back in court on December 15, 2025, and could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count. Other defendants also face significant charges and potential sentences.
FedEx cooperated fully with law enforcement during the investigation and emphasized its commitment to working with authorities to combat porch piracy.