Security News > 2021 > March > Guilty: Sister and brother who over-ordered hundreds of MacBooks for university and sold the kit for millions

A sister and brother have admitted over-ordering hundreds of new MacBooks for "a private university" in Silicon Valley to steal and sell the expensive gear for millions of dollars.

Over the course of ten years, starting in 2009, she methodically over-ordered and then sold them on, initially for cash through ads on Craigslist, and then through a man she met through one Craigslist ad, again in cash.

Six years in, she started giving the computers to her brother, Eric Castaneda, 36, of Redwood City, who sold them to another man they had met through a Craigslist ad who lived in Folsom, California, who then shipped them out of the US state.

Folsom man: Hey man, did you talk to your sister at all about getting more computers?.... Eric Castaneda: About how many u looking for? If we can get more I just don't want to be stuck with any u know?

In total, prosecutors estimate Patricia cost the university at least $4m total through her wheeler dealing, and that includes the 800 MacBooks worth $2.3m Eric flogged to his guy in Folsom.

It's not clear how the university - reported to be Stanford - failed to notice hundreds of laptops disappearing over a decade, though you can probably use your imagination.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/03/23/stanford_macbook_theft/