AST April 2018 Magazine AST April Magazine (3.30.18) | Page 9

Volume 22
The coordinated effort led to the seizure of servers,
computers, cell phones, and Phantom Secure devic-
es used to operate the Phantom Secure network, as
well as drugs and weapons.
Ramos and the others – Kim Augustus Rodd, Younes Nas-
ri, Michael Gamboa and Christopher Poquiz – are charged
with participating in and aiding and abetting a racketeer-
ing enterprise and conspiring to import and distribute
controlled substances around the world.
Authorities have seized Phantom Secure’s property,
including more than 150 domains and licenses
which were being used by transnational criminal
organizations to send and receive encrypted mes-
sages.
April 2018 Edition
In addition to our foreign law enforcement part-
ners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office further recognizes
the support and assistance of the following among
others, without whose help this prosecution could
not have been possible:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Customs and Border Protection
The Department of Homeland Security
Seattle and Las Vegas field office of the Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation
The Washington State Police Department
The City of Bellingham, Washington Police Depart-
ment
The City of Blaine, Washington Police Department
The Canada Border Services Agency
Authorities also seized bank accounts and property in Los
Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Speaking on behalf of Australian law enforcement au-
thorit ies, Australian Federal Police (AFP) Assistant Com-
missioner Organised Crime, Neil Gaughan said Austra-
This case stems from an investigation in the South- lia’s role in this complex and unique investigation began
ern District of California of a Phantom Secure client in early 2017 following an exchange of intelligence with
who used Phantom devices to coordinate shipments the FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
of thousands of kilograms of cocaine and other
drugs throughout the globe.
According to court documents, there were an
estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Phantom devices
in use worldwide before the authorities dis-
mantled the company.
This coordinated action means Phantom Secure’s
clients can no longer use these devices to commit
crimes.
According to Timothy O’Connor, Executive Director of the
Criminal Investigations Division New South Wales Crime
Commission, “The disruption of the Phantom Secure
platform has been one of the most significant blows to
organized crime in Australia.”
As a result, Australian authorities executed 19 search
warrants across four states last week as part of the
international action, where more than 1,000 encrypt-
ed mobile devices were seized.
“The action taken in the U.S. directly impacts the upper
echelons of organized crime both here in Australia and
offshore, who until now have been able to confidently
control and direct illicit activity like drug importations,
money laundering and associated serious criminal of-
fending,” said Assistant Commissioner Gaughan.
“Our thanks go to our international partners – the FBI
and RCMP – who have been outstanding in working
methodically around the clock together with us on
this unique investigation.”
7