Surfing Community Helps bring Down $1 Million Crime Syndicate Targeting Southern California Coast
Table of Contents
A ringleader faces over six years in prison for orchestrating a refined criminal operation that defrauded Southern California surfers out of $1 million. moundir Kamil, 56, is expected to be sentenced in Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday for leading the syndicate that preyed on beachgoers from San Diego to Los Angeles County.
Elaborate Scheme Targeted Surf Culture
The crimes, which unfolded last year, involved a coordinated effort to steal from surfers while they enjoyed time in the water.Working as a team, the criminals would stalk surfers, observe where they concealed their keys, and then break into their vehicles. The targets weren’t limited to cash; the thieves stole phones and bank cards to access victims’ financial resources.
The operation’s reach extended to emptying bank accounts, raiding investment holdings, and even draining crypto wallets. A notably alarming tactic involved intercepting calls from credit card companies regarding suspicious purchases at high-end retailers like chanel and the Apple Store.According to reports,the thieves,possessing the victims’ phones,would simply answer the calls and authorize the fraudulent charges.
Surf Filmmaker Leads Sting Operation
The brazenness of the crimes struck a nerve within the tight-knit surfing community. Celebrated surf filmmaker Logan “Chucky” Dulien became a victim himself after being swindled in Newport Beach. Rather than accept the loss, Dulien spearheaded a sting operation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“They got the guys red-handed,” Dulien stated. “It [the footage] has them visually going in [to the car]; it has them handing off the phone. It has everything. And the big kahuna was there a block away.”
Dulien emphasized the strong bonds within the surfing community, stating, “The surf community is one tribe. Everyone doesn’t get along, but at the end of the day, if someone is drowning, we’re gonna do whatever we can to save them.”
See footage of the operation as it unfolded, shared by Anderson Cooper 360°: https://twitter.com/AC360/status/IuTEypccp5
Justice Sought: Prison and Restitution
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is seeking a sent
Here’s a substantive news report based on the provided text, answering the “Why, Who, What, and How” questions:
Why did this happen? A criminal syndicate targeted Southern California surfers because they believed they were easy targets with disposable income, often leaving valuables unattended while enjoying the water. The syndicate sought to exploit this vulnerability for financial gain.
Who was involved? the central figure is Moundir Kamil, 56, the ringleader of the syndicate.The syndicate consisted of a team of thieves who worked together to stalk surfers, steal from their vehicles, and access their financial resources. Logan “Chucky” Dulien, a surf filmmaker and victim of the crimes, played a crucial role in leading a sting operation to apprehend the perpetrators. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
What happened? A sophisticated criminal operation defrauded Southern california surfers out of approximately $1 million. The syndicate stole cash, phones, and bank cards from surfers’ vehicles, then used this data to drain bank accounts, raid investment holdings, and even access cryptocurrency wallets. They also intercepted calls from credit card companies
