3 Accused Of Embezzling Thousands Of Fairfax County School Laptops

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Police arrested three men last Thursday in connection with the theft of thousands of Fairfax County Public School laptop computers from a warehouse in Springfield.

Although they still don’t know the extent of the embezzlement, police believe as many as 35,000 laptops, with an estimated value of more than $2 million, were stolen as part of the scheme dating back to November 2020,

Fadi Atiyeh, 36, an employee of Attyay Computer Recycling, was arrested last Thursday and charged with receiving stolen property and larceny in connection with the stolen computers.

Two other men, employees of Fairfax County Public Schools, also were arrested for their roles in the scheme. Franque Minor II, 35, of Maryland and Mario Jones Jr., 21, of Woodbridge were charged with embezzlement and larceny with the intent to distribute.

After Atiyey’s arrest, police got a warrant to search Attyah Computer Recycling at 44190 Waxpool Road in Ashburn, where they recovered additional evidence in the case, the department said.

Fairfax County detectives were first notified in March of several thousand Fairfax County Public School laptops that were believed to be “illegally reallocated,” police said. The laptops were stored at a warehouse in the 6800 block of Industrial Road in Springfield and were set to be auctioned.

Detectives identified a box truck registered to Attyah Computer Recycling that arrived frequently at the warehouse. Atiyeh, the driver of the truck, would not exit the vehicle or provide the necessary paperwork required to receive auctioned goods, police said.

Laptops and computer parts would be loaded into the truck, and Atiyeh would leave, according to police.

In their investigation, two warehouse employees — FCPS employees Minor and Jones — were identified as helping with the theft of the laptops, police said.

On the morning of July 14, detectives were conducting surveillance at the warehouse and saw the truck arrive at the location. Detectives stopped the box truck and found stolen laptops inside.

Atiyeh of Centreville was then arrested. Later that day, both Minor and Jones were arrested, police said.

Police are asking anyone with information about this embezzlement to call the detectives at 703-256-8035. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone at 866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web.