Milford Man Scams iPhone Insurers Out Of $50K, State Police Say

MILFORD, CT — A Milford man is accused of defrauding iPhone insurers out of at least $50,000 through filing phony claims, according to state police.

State police detectives began an investigation in March after receiving a complaint from Asurion Insurance Services about a criminal group running a scheme to get new iPhones via fraudulent insurance claims mostly in New Haven and Milford.

The company claimed the group had caused losses of at least $372,000. The scam involves purchasing insurance on a phone, then filing a false claim with the insurer to get a replacement device, according to an arrest warrant.

The investigation identified Esmaylin Delacruz, 37, of Milford, as a key suspect.

Police executed a warrant to search Delacruz's home in November and said they found multiple iPhones.

Police said Delacruz obtained iPhones worth at least $50,000 through phony insurance claims. He committed this fraud over the course of five years, according to an arrest warrant.

The investigation also found that Delacruz employed mules to open accounts through different wireless carriers and file fraudulent claims so he could later receive replacement iPhones.

A law enforcement analysis of the phones found that the vast majority of them were never activated on the claimed accounts.

Many of the replacement devices were ultimately activated on overseas cellular networks, indicating that the person making the insurance claim resold the devices, according to the warrant.

Authorities found Delacruz on Thursday and arrested him on a warrant.

He was taken to state police Troop G in Bridgeport and charged with first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny, and insurance fraud.

He was held on $75,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in Milford Superior Court on Friday.