Porch Pirates Target Long Island Packages
Authorities in New York have uncovered a coordinated effort by a group of Porch Pirates who allegedly used insider information to track FedEx deliveries, stealing numerous valuable packages from residents in Long Island. This operation spanned nearly two years and has now led to a significant indictment, according to state prosecutors.
On Monday, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against 14 individuals involved in this scheme, which focused on cell phone deliveries between October 2023 and February 2025.
The alleged thieves utilized sensitive information about deliveries, such as tracking numbers, recipient names, and even delivery times, allowing them to snatch boxes filled with expensive electronics right off the porches at the moment they were delivered.
Most of the targeted packages were sent via FedEx through Verizon and AT&T, and prosecutors suggest that the delivery systems may have been compromised digitally by those involved in the theft.
District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney mentioned, “We believe the information was hacked.”
The stolen goods were reportedly transported to various stash locations in the Bronx, where they were later sold to wholesalers both domestically and internationally.
In a statement, Tierney said, “For two years, this alleged Porch Pirate organization has plagued our community, building a criminal organization out of Suffolk families and businesses.” He added that these indictments reflect their commitment to holding criminals accountable, regardless of the scale of their activities.
The operation is said to have been orchestrated by 29-year-old Andriksson Jerez, who allegedly communicated with his associates using encrypted messaging. Interestingly, his father, 48-year-old Juan Baez, was also implicated, reportedly assisting in delivering the stolen electronics to buyers.
While the source of the hack remains unclear, it is believed that a person with considerable skills and knowledge could be behind it. “It takes a certain amount of sophistication,” Tierney noted.
This operation seemingly affected over 30 towns across Long Island and included disturbing incidents where violence occurred. In one situation, a FedEx driver was reportedly shoved by Luger Guerrero, 26, and associates during an attempted theft involving a package of pills.
There were also reports of Felipe Batista, 22, forcibly taking a package from a homeowner. In another case, Leonel Tejeda Reynoso, 32, allegedly used a fake ID to collect a package containing tablets worth over $1,000 from a FedEx Center in Melville.
The defendants now face a range of charges including robbery, corporate corruption, conspiracy, and theft, with Jerez facing a potential 25-year prison sentence if convicted.
