A New York man pleaded guilty to participating in an international cargo theft conspiracy that federal prosecutors say targeted valuable electronic shipments before delivery. Raimond Cabrera De Leon entered the plea on July 16 in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. He admitted conspiring to receive and transport stolen goods tied to losses exceeding $1.5 million. The plea is the latest development in a broader federal investigation that resulted in charges against 13 defendants in February 2025.

Investigators believe the organization stole thousands of shipments containing iPhones, Samsung phones, iPads and other electronic devices. Court records estimate the losses at more than $1.5 million. The FBI Newark Division led the investigation with support from federal, state and local partners. The case remains active against the remaining defendants.

The investigation began after authorities documented more than 400 package thefts involving cellular devices across New Jersey during 2024. Investigators formed a multi-agency task force to identify suspects and examine theft patterns, and the effort expanded into a multi-state investigation. Federal prosecutors later charged 13 people linked to the organization.

Court records describe an operation that assigned specific roles to different participants rather than a series of random thefts. Investigators believe some members collected shipment information before deliveries occurred, others carried out the thefts after receiving that information, and additional participants bought stolen electronics before moving them into resale channels.

Court records describe organized theft process

According to the criminal complaint, one participant created automated scripts that queried FedEx’s public shipment tracking platform. The same records say the scripts also searched the customer tracking portal of a major U.S. wireless carrier identified only as “Victim-1.” Investigators believe those searches were used to identify valuable electronic shipments and monitor delivery progress, allowing members to target packages before customers received them. That kind of visibility into shipping data can make thefts harder to spot because the criminal activity happens before a package reaches its destination.

Charging documents also accuse members of bribing retail employees who worked for the wireless carrier. Court records say those employees provided customer names, tracking numbers and delivery addresses. Investigators believe participants combined those details with shipment information before directing theft crews to specific locations. Authorities identify Cabrera De Leon as one operator linked to a Bronx location that received stolen electronics for resale.

Court documents also describe specialized roles throughout the organization. Investigators identified dispatchers who gathered shipment information and distributed delivery details. Theft crews then targeted specific packages using that intelligence. Other participants purchased stolen devices before preparing them for resale through locations associated with the organization.

When prosecutors announced the original indictment, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna said the case involved more than isolated package thefts.

“The alleged thefts here were not crimes of opportunity. They were calculated, coordinated, and fueled by insider access and technology. My office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal organizations that target businesses and consumers alike.” Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna

Investigators also described one unusual incident in the criminal complaint. After FedEx security intercepted stolen iPhones, one defendant allegedly contacted FedEx customer service to report the shipment missing. Prosecutors included that episode as part of the broader investigation into the organization.

Guilty plea advances larger investigation

Cabrera De Leon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive and transport stolen goods. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, and sentencing has not been scheduled. Federal prosecutors continue pursuing the remaining defendants.

The investigation remains active as the other criminal cases move through federal court. Additional proceedings could provide more details about how investigators identified participants, tracked shipment intelligence and disrupted the alleged organization.

Cargo theft often begins long before anyone touches a trailer or package. Court records in this case describe a scheme focused on shipment visibility, employee access and operational information before deliveries occurred. Transportation companies may review who can view shipment data, how that information moves through daily operations and where stronger verification can help prevent misuse of those systems.

Click here for more articles on cargo theft and freight fraud by Phil Brink.

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