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Feds Bust CEO Allegedly Selling Custom BlackBerry Phones to Sinaloa Drug Cartel
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:34 am
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:34 am
Motherboard: Phantom Secure is one of the most infamous companies in the secure phone industry. Sources and court documents detail that its owner has been arrested for allegedly helping criminal organizations.
For years, a slew of shadowy companies have sold so-called encrypted phones, custom BlackBerry or Android devices that sometimes have the camera and microphone removed and only send secure messages through private networks. Several of those firms allegedly cater primarily for criminal organizations.
Now, the FBI has arrested the owner of one of the most established companies, Phantom Secure, as part of a complex law enforcement operation, according to court records and sources familiar with the matter.
The heavily redacted complaint, written by FBI Special Agent Nicholas Cheviron, alleges that even members of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel used Phantom’s devices, and that the “upper echelon members” of transnational criminal groups have bought Phantom phones.
A second source also familiar with the secure phone industry told Motherboard that the devices have been sold in Mexico, Cuba, and Venezuela, as well as to the Hells Angels gang. Cheviron estimates that 20,000 Phantom devices are in use worldwide, with around half of those in Australia; bringing in tens of millions of dollars of revenue to Phantom.
For years, a slew of shadowy companies have sold so-called encrypted phones, custom BlackBerry or Android devices that sometimes have the camera and microphone removed and only send secure messages through private networks. Several of those firms allegedly cater primarily for criminal organizations.
Now, the FBI has arrested the owner of one of the most established companies, Phantom Secure, as part of a complex law enforcement operation, according to court records and sources familiar with the matter.
The heavily redacted complaint, written by FBI Special Agent Nicholas Cheviron, alleges that even members of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel used Phantom’s devices, and that the “upper echelon members” of transnational criminal groups have bought Phantom phones.
A second source also familiar with the secure phone industry told Motherboard that the devices have been sold in Mexico, Cuba, and Venezuela, as well as to the Hells Angels gang. Cheviron estimates that 20,000 Phantom devices are in use worldwide, with around half of those in Australia; bringing in tens of millions of dollars of revenue to Phantom.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:36 am to MrLSU
So now drug lords can't use cell phones? What about freedom of speech?
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:38 am to MrLSU
quote:
the Hells Angels gang.
NB4 Darth.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:39 am to MrLSU
I don't know why, but I feel like it should not be illegal to sell encrypted cell phones, regardless of who your clientele is.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:39 am to MrLSU
Under Trump's new plan, which I kind of lean toward, would we give these scum bags the death penalty too? We should at least start giving them a mandatory of 30 years imo
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:40 am to TheCaterpillar
It shouldn't be illegal to sell tunnel building equipment and submarine making materials to the cartels either.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:45 am to TheCaterpillar
There's a bit more to it than that.
The complaint sounds more RICO in nature.
Phantom has some problems.
The complaint sounds more RICO in nature.
Phantom has some problems.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 11:34 am to MrLSU
Criminalizing privacy is what this sounds like. I'd bet there are a lot of people who use these same services for non-criminal reasons, be they politicians or celebrities.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 12:26 pm to MrLSU
How can they know who are actually ordering the phones? If it's not illegal to make these phones then they don't have anymore a case against them than if they tried to improson a burner phone manufacturer.
I didn't know these existed. Hell I'd love to have one and I'm not involved in any criminal organization. I just don't like the government collecting my phone records
I didn't know these existed. Hell I'd love to have one and I'm not involved in any criminal organization. I just don't like the government collecting my phone records
Posted on 3/12/18 at 12:45 pm to SCLibertarian
quote:
Criminalizing privacy is what this sounds like. I'd bet there are a lot of people who use these same services for non-criminal reasons, be they politicians or celebrities.
What celebrities do you know that want a phone that only has the ability to send text messages through a private network?
What would the benefit be for having such a specific device other than trying to hide what you're doing.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 12:54 pm to MrLSU
Not sure what they will charge them with or what crime is being committed here.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 1:02 pm to MrLSU
Anyone else read this as Coach Ed Orgeron and get their hopes up?
Posted on 3/12/18 at 1:07 pm to MLCLyons
So now hiding what you are doing is illegal? frick this country.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 1:11 pm to OysterPoBoy
ACLU is going to tear the FBI's arse up over this one.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 1:11 pm to Barstools
quote:
“We made it—we made it specifically for this [drug trafficking] too,” Ramos told undercover agents, according to a transcript included in the complaint.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 1:14 pm to SCLibertarian
quote:
SCLibertarian ? ? on 3/12/18 at 11:34 am to MrLSU
Criminalizing privacy is what this sounds like. I'd bet there are a lot of people who use these same services for non-criminal reasons, be they politicians or celebrities.
Username checks out.
I agree, fwiw.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 1:49 pm to MLCLyons
quote:
What would the benefit be for having such a specific device other than trying to hide what you're doing.
To enjoy your right to privacy from anyone else.
People who think they have nothing to hide havent really thought it through.
Posted on 3/12/18 at 2:52 pm to NYNolaguy1
To all the constitutional scholars in this thread, this is illegal due to the patriot act and doing business with cartels, terrorists etc is prohibited under anti-money laundering laws, OFAC, etc
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