HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against two FedEx employees from Delaware County who orchestrated a theft scheme last year involving the stealing of cellphones from shipments. These phones were then distributed to co-conspirators who resold them.
The accused ringleaders, Lahneir McBride and Cahron Wilmore, both aged 25, face multiple felony charges including corrupt organizations, organized retail theft, criminal solicitation, and other related offenses.
Seven other individuals, who sold the stolen phones on several occasions, have been charged with similar crimes. All nine defendants are currently in custody.
The investigation by the Office of Attorney General revealed that McBride and Wilmore stole at least 181 smartphones, valued at approximately $173,000. These stolen devices were later sold at EcoATM stations, generating $57,000 in profit for the criminal network. The individuals who resold the phones received between $200 and $300 for each device.
“Our Organized Crime Unit remains dedicated to dismantling sophisticated criminal operations that defraud consumers and contribute to price hikes in the market,” said Attorney General Sunday. “This criminal enterprise involved the theft of high-value smartphones, with McBride and Wilmore orchestrating the operation while a network of sellers carried out the transactions.”
McBride and Wilmore were employed by FedEx in the summer of 2024, and shortly after their hiring, they initiated the thefts, which took place from late June through September 2024.
EcoATM machines, which document each transaction with photographs and seller details, helped investigators trace the stolen phones back to the Linwood warehouse where McBride and Wilmore worked.
The seven co-conspirators charged in this case include Latoria McBride (Lahneir’s mother), Albert Payne, Lamiyah Young, Janiya Monae Wilmore, Ciani Wilmore, Danasia Jackson, and Lamarr Taylor.
The case will be prosecuted by the Organized Crime Section of the Office of Attorney General. It’s important to note that criminal charges, and the discussion of those charges, are only allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
