Four Arrested in $500K South Florida Electronics Theft Ring

Four men are facing charges for allegedly stealing more than $500,000 worth of cellphones and electronics intended for T-Mobile stores across South Florida.

Authorities say the theft ring, which operated in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie counties, began stealing UPS shipments as early as July 2024. The suspects—Giffton St. Abuyn White, Sheldon Beswick Brown, Christopher Palmer, and Samuel Drummond—allegedly sold the stolen goods to a third party for profit, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office.

T-Mobile launched an internal investigation and traced the missing shipments to California. By October 2024, losses had surpassed $500,000. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office detectives later uncovered 16 thefts at a UPS hub in Riviera Beach.

Investigators also found a fencing operation being run from a recording studio and phone repair shop in Lantana. White, Brown, and Palmer were arrested, and some stolen property was recovered.

Drummond remains at large with an active warrant.

The suspects face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit racketeering, organized fraud, dealing in stolen property, unlawful use of a communications device, and grand theft.