With Tourist's iPhone Held For Ransom, Cops Set Up Sting

An events planner visiting Miami got an assist from a "small army of undercover cops" who helped nab the folks who stole his iPhone and tried to demand a ransom for the 3GS device. According to the Post, Ted Todoroff was "hanging out with pals at the Brass Monkey Bar in the Meatpacking District on Monday night when he forgot his $200 Apple iPhone 3GS." So he texted his phone, and managed to reach the two people who picked it up.

William Wilson, 26, and Jeanette Benitez, 20, allegedly agreed to return the phone to him for $200 at a Midtown Subway shop. However, the NYPD was involved so a cop posing as Todoroff paid the ransom...and then the pair were arrested by six other undercovers. Todoroff was thrilled with the return of his phone and the drama, "I couldn't believe that they took the bait... It was like watching 'CSI: Miami.'" Still, this is not as amazing at the iPhone mugger who emailed his self-portrait.

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By Jen Chung in News on November 19, 2010 10:47 AM

Comments [rss]

jgonzz

I have found about a dozen phones while riding in taxis. I'm usually hung over the following morning when i hear the unfamiliar buzz or chime of the newly acquired phone. I have returned them all, except one (dead battery). It was getting to be a hassle dealing with this lost stuff, so now I just hand it to the driver. I don't know if its karma but most of the owners of the phones I have returned have been young japanese/korean girls. No idea why.

JacqueMehoff

I dunno, do you like young Japanese/Korean girls?

Dirk

Jeez... why so many cops on a case like this?

grandzu

Its not really ransom as he lost the phone. They didn't steal it. It seems as though the "culprits" considered it a reward for finding and returning it.

Seems like a waste of resources.

Spirit of 76

It's a reward if the owner offers it. It's extortion if the finder demands it.

Mermaid Fornicator

6 undercovers for a phone? i guess stopping drug dealers would have been too dificult.

JacqueMehoff

eh, should have thrown it in the East or Hudson river. Talking never works in your favor. Best to keep your mouth shut.

Duffy

Looks like these two perps were really

*sunglasses*

Phoning it in.

YEEEEAAAAAAAOOOOWWW

jpeditor

More cop bashing from Gothamist.

maryjr

Why is it when that happened to me and I called the police their advice was to consider the phone lost?

Jen Chung

Yeah, this seemed to be an impressive display of NYPD manpower.

maryjr

Were the boys in blue having a slow evening?

hotstepper

brass monkey, that funky monkey!

sorry everyone, pardon my B-boys flashback...

SP's Ghost

Greedy little assholes. This is really great. I hope they get the shit kicked out of them in jail.

virgilstarkwell

you really think they're going to jail???

SP's Ghost

Yes. First, they were arrested. That means they were held in jail while they were being booked. Even if they were let out on bail, they would have spent at least 24hrs in jail during that process. That happens for minor outstanding moving violation infractions, I don't imagine it would be any less for holding someone's property for ransom. Considering they used seven cops to bust them I doubt they would just let them off afterwards with no charges pressed and a slap on the wrist. If and when convicted (can't imagine how they could not get convicted) they will most likely get a few days in jail, as well as a fine, maybe some form of community service and probation. It seems to me like you don't know the difference between jail and prison. I think you're confusing the former with the latter. I'll let you educate yourself on that on your own.