William Gallagher
A Nashua man hired to transport $2 million worth of iPhones, iPads, and more Apple devices for a customer, has pleaded guilty to taking bribes to fake documents and reroute the shipment.
According to the US Attorney's Office, District of New Hampshire, 30-year-old Nashua resident Guangwei "William" Wu, has admitted to interstate transportation of stolen property.
It was done via his transshipping company Hai Xing Qiao, based in Manchester, NH. A company bought the Apple products, then hired Wu's firm to transport them to Hong Kong.
But Wu was then bribed with $700,000 by a different Hong Kong firm, Yongfu Huo. Wu shipped the Apple devices to Yongfu Huo instead.
Wu told the original company that US law enforcement had seized the shipment. He even forged a "Disclaimer of Ownership" document, including faking a federal agent's signature on it.
He was arrested following an investigation by the FBI and US Postal Inspection Service, and was charged on June 1, 2023.
Judge Samantha D. Elliot has now scheduled sentencing for October 4, 2023. The crime comes with a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years, plus 3 years of what's described as "supervised release."
Wu has been ordered to pay a fine of $250,000. As part of his agreement to plead guilty, he will also have to repay the $2 million to the original customer.
Separately, in March 2023, two businessmen from Charlotte were indicted on similar interstate transportation crimes, including sending some iPhones overseas.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
3 Comments
I am sure he won't get 10 years. If he does talk about disproportionate punishment!
Up to 10 years for $2 million. Punishment seems a bit light at $200,000/yr. (even lighter if less than 10 years). White collar criminals need to be punished in a way that discourages the act. Law makers need to increase maximum jail term, and confiscate criminal's property (homes and cars) where allowed. If trial was in China, suspect the criminal would be treated less leniently (hard labor, and maybe death). Maybe just make him listen to J. Cash's "One Piece at a Time" about 2 million times?