Brothers exchanged fake iPhones, iPads from China for real ones at US stores, feds say

Co-conspirators involved with the operation travelled to hundreds of Apple Stores in North America and tried to exchange thousands of counterfeit devices for real ones. — Photo by Andy Wang on Unsplash

Three brothers from California pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking fake iPhones and iPads, authorities said.

The men, Zhiwei Liao, Zhimin Liao and Zhiting Liao, agreed to “forfeit their interests in five residences in San Diego, more than US$250,000 (RM1mil) in criminal proceeds, and more than 200 Apple iPhones” that were linked to the conspiracy, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California.