Three Men Indicted in $1.2 Million Armed Hijacking of Apple Delivery Truck
Federal prosecutors have indicted three men following a brazen armed hijacking of a delivery truck carrying over $1 million in high-end Apple electronics earlier this year. The heist, which unfolded in a busy New York shopping district, involved handguns, zip ties, and a coordinated effort to move stolen merchandise across state lines.
- The Loss: More than $1.2 million worth of MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches were stolen.
- The Suspects: Alan Christhofer Cedeno-Ferrer, Michael Mejia-Nunez, and Ennait Alexis Sirett-Padilla have been indicted.
- The Method: Suspects used handguns to kidnap delivery workers and a rented Home Depot truck to transfer the cargo.
- The Evidence: Fingerprints on a rental agreement and the activation of stolen Apple Watches linked the suspects to the crime.
- The Penalty: If convicted, the defendants face up to 30 years in prison.
The January 3 Heist: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 a.m. On January 3, 2026, outside the Apple Store at the Americana Manhasset mall in New York. Two delivery workers were in the process of unloading $1.2 million in merchandise when they were ambushed.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, three men approached the workers armed with handguns. The assailants forced one worker into the back of the delivery truck and zip-tied his hands. They then coerced the second worker into the driver’s seat, forcing him to drive the vehicle to a secluded parking area behind an office building on Northern Boulevard in Manhasset.
Once they reached the secluded location, the suspects ordered the driver into the back of the truck and zip-tied his hands alongside his colleague. The criminals then closed the cargo doors, trapping both victims inside before fleeing the scene.
Logistics and the Getaway
The operation relied on a rented Home Depot box truck to facilitate the theft. Prosecutors state that Alan Christhofer Cedeno-Ferrer rented the vehicle using a fake Pennsylvania driver’s license. The suspects backed the Home Depot truck up to the delivery vehicle, aligning the cargo sections to quickly transfer all the Apple merchandise.
Following the transfer, the stolen gear was transported to a self-storage facility in Paterson, New Jersey. Ennait Alexis Sirett-Padilla rented a storage unit in his own name, which prosecutors say served as a hub to move the goods from the Home Depot truck into a U-Haul truck and another vehicle driven by a co-conspirator.
Law enforcement located the abandoned Home Depot truck in the Bronx two days after the hijacking.
How the Investigation Cracked the Case
The suspects left behind a trail of physical and digital evidence that allowed federal investigators to build their case:
- Forensic Evidence: Investigators recovered a copy of the rental agreement from inside the abandoned Home Depot truck, which bore Cedeno-Ferrer’s fingerprints.
- Digital Footprints: Cedeno-Ferrer reportedly activated two of the stolen Apple Watches several days after the heist, providing a direct digital link to the stolen property.
- Paper Trails: The storage unit in New Jersey was registered in Sirett-Padilla’s own name.
The crime was first reported after one of the kidnapped victims managed to free himself from the zip ties and call 911.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific items were stolen during the hijacking?
The stolen cargo consisted of MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and other Apple accessories valued at over $1.2 million.
Where did the hijacking take place?
The initial ambush happened outside the Apple Store at the Americana Manhasset mall in New York, with the cargo transfer occurring on Northern Boulevard in Manhasset.
What are the potential legal consequences for the suspects?
The three indicted men face up to 30 years in prison if they are convicted of the charges.
Looking Ahead
This case highlights the increasing risks associated with high-value electronics logistics and the critical role that device activation and forensic tracking play in recovering stolen assets. As federal prosecutors move forward with the case against Cedeno-Ferrer, Mejia-Nunez, and Sirett-Padilla, the outcome will likely serve as a deterrent for organized retail and transit crime targeting luxury technology.