Morris, IL – Four California residents face felony charges after Grundy County deputies intercepted over $500,000 in allegedly stolen electronics during a traffic stop on Interstate 80. The November 7 operation involved the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office Pro-Active Unit, which observed six vehicles with California plates traveling together near the T/A Travel Center in Morris.
Around 1 p.m., deputies initiated surveillance after a Flock license plate reader identified suspicious activity among the vehicles. Four of the cars, including a 26-foot U-Haul van, left the travel center and proceeded south on Route 47, eventually merging onto Interstate 80 westbound. Failing to stop at a red light while entering the highway, all four vehicles were pulled over for the traffic violation.
According to deputies, inconsistencies in the occupants’ stories raised suspicion. The U-Haul driver, who claimed to be transporting a load from New Jersey to California, displayed signs of nervousness, prompting a search. Inside the U-Haul, officers found hundreds of unopened Apple iPads and RIG Wireless headphones, lacking a Bill of Lading, an official document required for transport.
A second vehicle, a Kia minivan, contained two associates of the U-Haul occupants. A consensual search of the minivan revealed 64 grams of cannabis and a small quantity of cocaine. Both Kia occupants were also detained.
Further investigation confirmed the stolen goods matched a recent New Jersey cargo theft involving Amazon-owned Apple iPads. The iPads were valued between $260,000 and $350,000, while the wireless headphones were worth around $220,000. Additional checks revealed that the headphones were stolen from a Kentucky cargo shipment.
After questioning, the four suspects allegedly admitted involvement in the thefts. Authorities charged each suspect with possession of stolen property valued over $500,000, a Class 1 non-probationable felony. All four are being held at Grundy County Jail pending a pre-trial release hearing. Homeland Security officials assisted in the investigation, which remains ongoing.
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