NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida man was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment for his role as one of the leaders and organizers of large scheme to defraud a national cellular provider that spanned multiple states, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.Defendant Arrantes Garrincha Green, a/k/a “Don Gucci,” a/k/a “Gucci,” 47, of Margate, Florida had previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with his role in the scheme. U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton imposed the sentence on January 28, 2026, in Newark federal court.
Seven other defendants have previously been sentenced in connection with the same scheme. Six more have also pleaded guilty in the case and are awaiting sentencing.According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:From June 2015 through June 2017, the defendants and others, led by Green, conspired to steal electronic equipment, including new smartphones, from a national cellular service provider. Members of the conspiracy used stolen personal identifiers, including stolen Social Security numbers, as well as stolen debit and credit card information to place orders with the victim company. Green alone was responsible for placing fraudulent orders for over $200,000 in stolen equipment.
Green and others then transmitted anticipated delivery dates and locations of the fraudulently-ordered products to other conspirators who were employed as drivers with a major parcel delivery company. These drivers were paid to divert the products mid-delivery to other members of the conspiracy. Proceeds generated through the scheme were shared by wire transfer or depositing the funds in designated bank accounts. The scheme compromised the identities of hundreds of residents in multiple municipalities across multiple states, including Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, and caused losses in excess of $1.5 million to the victim company.In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Green to three years of supervised release.Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.
He also thanked the Upper Saddle River Police Department, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the NYPD, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the West Hartford Police Department and the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office, Hartford Judicial District, for their assistance.The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sammi Malek, Peter Laserna, and Michael Hardin of the Criminal Division in Newark. ###Defense counsel: John McMahon, Esq.