A man from New Jersey has been taken into custody for reportedly trafficking 675 SpaceX Starlink terminals that were bought with stolen credit card information or hacked Starlink billing accounts. The arrest was made public on Wednesday.
A 35-year-old man named Kelvin Rodriguez-Moya was pulled over by police on Dec. 4 for transporting 223 Starlink terminals in a pickup truck and trailer after leaving a residence in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, according to a criminal complaint. Multiple shipping labels were found at the address, each addressed to different names.
Police Uncover Illegal Starlink Device Operation
Lawrence Township police have uncovered an illicit operation involving the unauthorized purchase and transportation of Starlink devices, a division of SpaceX specializing in satellite internet service for remote regions. A total of 675 devices, valued at approximately $400,000, were reportedly acquired through illegal means, sparking a thorough investigation.
Police authorities were notified about the suspicious activity when a vigilant resident reported an unusually large number of deliveries to a residence on Roxboro Road. Chief Chris Longo of the Lawrence Township police highlighted the importance of community vigilance in uncovering such activities.
Chief Longo stated, "Typically, what happens is the suspect would use these devices to resell and gain some type of monetary benefit."
The investigation revealed that the suspect, identified as Rodriguez-Moya, had been intercepted while transporting Starlink terminals to northern New Jersey for resale.
Court documents indicate that Rodriguez-Moya, pulled over with the stolen devices in his possession, confessed to being compensated for transporting them to Newark for resale. The suspect does not reside at the Roxboro Road address, and the occupants of the house are not implicated in the illegal operation, according to 6 ABC.
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Recovery of Illicit Starlink Devices
Approximately one-third of the illicitly obtained devices have been successfully recovered and returned to SpaceX. It was disclosed that the purchased devices were using stolen credit information, with the Lawrence house serving as a temporary storage point before being transported to North Jersey.
A number of substantial allegations have been brought against Rodriguez-Moya, including counts of receiving stolen items in the second degree and trafficking stolen property. At this time, he is being detained at the Mercer County jail in anticipation of a detention hearing.
Meanwhile, the incident sheds light on the broader impact of Starlink terminals, which have played a crucial role in global connectivity. Notably, Starlink devices were utilized in Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February 2022 and have continued to serve a vital role in the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian military officials have reported that even Russian troops are using Starlink terminals, acquired through alternative channels.
In addition to troubled areas, Starlink dishes have been incredibly useful in remote locations around the world, such as Mount Everest base camps, boats, and as main internet providers for businesses and residences. The illegal acquisition case in Lawrence Township highlights the increasing significance and popularity of Starlink devices, calling for enhanced security measures to deter unauthorized access and distribution, New Jersey 101.5 reported.
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