According to authorities, three men have been apprehended in connection with a theft operation that targeted T-Mobile stores in Florida, resulting in the theft of over $250,000.
Giffton White, Sheldon Brownand, and Christopher Palmer are the individuals who have been charged with several crimes. These include conspiracy to commit racketeering, grand theft over $100,000, organized scheme to defraud over $50,000, dealing in stolen property, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
What led to the arrests?
The backstory: The investigation was initiated on October 31, 2024, when representatives from T-Mobile and UPS approached detectives from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials have revealed that a theft ring had specifically targeted packages intended for T-Mobile retail locations, resulting in significant losses for the company since July 2024. Following an internal investigation, T-Mobile was able to trace the stolen goods back to California.
According to authorities, the losses reached a total of $504,052.75 by October 8, 2024.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office played a key role in uncovering a series of thefts targeting T-Mobile packages at a UPS hub in Riviera Beach. Through their investigation, law enforcement officials were able to identify a fencing operation that was using a recording studio and cell phone repair shop called GoalMind Studios in Lantana as a front for selling the stolen items. As a result, 16 specific thefts were documented and the individuals involved were apprehended.
On February 25th, law enforcement officials obtained four arrest warrants and a search warrant for GoalMind’s location. These legal documents proved crucial in uncovering the fact that the primary target was actively trying to escape the country.
The suspects were apprehended by deputies without any trouble.
During the search of GoalMind Studios, deputies found stolen property, which provided additional evidence pointing towards the involvement of the business owner.
The business owner is currently at large, according to officials.
According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, T-Mobile has reported a total documented loss of $269,035.80 as of February 25th.