Wantagh men nabbed in alleged ‘Frankenstein’ phone scam

<p>Two Wantagh men are under arrest after being accused of peddling cellphones put together with inferior and counterfeit parts to unsuspecting customers.</p>

News 12 Staff

Mar 29, 2018, 8:50 PM

Updated 2,220 days ago

Share:

Wantagh men nabbed in alleged ‘Frankenstein’ phone scam
Two Wantagh men are under arrest after being accused of peddling cellphones put together with inferior and counterfeit parts to unsuspecting customers.
At a news conference Thursday, local and federal investigators laid out hundreds of seized Apple and Samsung “Frankenstein phones” along with $1 million in cash they seized from brothers-in-law Sumesh Pasricha, 48, and Gurcharan Luthra, 37.
Prosecutors say they were smuggling the counterfeit goods from China into John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Authorities say they would keep the phones at an office on Wantagh Avenue until they could resell them online.
“They went out of their way to outfit boxes with fake labels and even serial numbers,” said Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas. “To the layman's eye, I think all of you would agree they all look real.”
Agents with Customs and Border Protection say they have the sharp eye to spot the fakes. The investigation started in November when sketchy shipments of Apple earbuds were heading to Wantagh. Authorities say Apple would never ship direct to a warehouse in New York.
At the Wantagh office, people who work on the same floor as the brothers-in-law say they thought something was odd about the duo after a vast amount of boxes started showing up.
Prosecutors say the two men have no prior arrests. They were arraigned on counterfeiting charges and released without having to post bail.


More from News 12
1:55
Authorities: 41-year-old man killed by his own dog in Longwood

Authorities: 41-year-old man killed by his own dog in Longwood

2:03
Home Depot customers weigh in on recent stretch of bad encounters

Home Depot customers weigh in on recent stretch of bad encounters

1:55
Sunny with mild temperatures for New York City today; tracking weekend rain

Sunny with mild temperatures for New York City today; tracking weekend rain

2:13
MTA outlines new details on congestion pricing, including start date

MTA outlines new details on congestion pricing, including start date

0:56
Bronx nature-lovers celebrate arrival of cherry blossoms

Bronx nature-lovers celebrate arrival of cherry blossoms

0:30
Coney Island named a top 25 U.S. beach in Travel + Leisure

Coney Island named a top 25 U.S. beach in Travel + Leisure

1:46
NYPD: 2nd suspect linked to killing of 17-year-old in Morrisania at large

NYPD: 2nd suspect linked to killing of 17-year-old in Morrisania at large

1:43
See what's happening across the Bronx the weekend of April 27-28

See what's happening across the Bronx the weekend of April 27-28

1:59
6-year-old girl from the Bronx making, selling custom T-shirts for Mother's Day

6-year-old girl from the Bronx making, selling custom T-shirts for Mother's Day

0:29
Where to drop off your prescription drugs safely in the Bronx for National Take Back Day

Where to drop off your prescription drugs safely in the Bronx for National Take Back Day

0:27
Police: Bronx man beaten, stabbed at Showboat Resort Atlantic City; 1 arrested

Police: Bronx man beaten, stabbed at Showboat Resort Atlantic City; 1 arrested

1:55
Tribute held for survivors and victims of high-profile violent Bronx crimes

Tribute held for survivors and victims of high-profile violent Bronx crimes

0:24
Councilmember Marmorato meets with Home Depot staff to discuss security measures

Councilmember Marmorato meets with Home Depot staff to discuss security measures

2:03
Council Member Sanchez introduces building inspection, integrity bills after Billingsley Terrace collapse

Council Member Sanchez introduces building inspection, integrity bills after Billingsley Terrace collapse

1:34
MTA rolls out multibillion-dollar plan to protect transit system from major storms

MTA rolls out multibillion-dollar plan to protect transit system from major storms

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

0:30
Gov. Hochul announces funding to aid flood-prone communities

Gov. Hochul announces funding to aid flood-prone communities

1:35
NYPD: Multiple armed suspects wanted for string of robberies on Bronx train

NYPD: Multiple armed suspects wanted for string of robberies on Bronx train

2:02
Exclusive: Animal rescue group stepping in to help cats in danger of being mauled

Exclusive: Animal rescue group stepping in to help cats in danger of being mauled

0:05
Baseball's oldest living major leaguer, former Yankee Art Schallock, is turning 100

Baseball's oldest living major leaguer, former Yankee Art Schallock, is turning 100