By now, you’re all familiar with the story. An Apple engineer loses a next-generation iPhone, and through an unusual series of events, the device ends up in the hands of Gizmodo editor Jason Chen who parades the device around on Gizmodo’s website.
Shortly thereafter, Apple called the police, reported the iPhone stolen, a search warrant was issued, and next thing you know, Jason Chen’s home was raided by California’s Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team where they seized a few of Chen’s electronic devices.
But since the raid took place in late April, we haven’t heard much of anything about the story. Jason Chen hasn’t posted much, if at all, on Gizmodo and who knows what ever happened to all of his seized computer equipment.
Well, as it turns out, it’s now in the possession of the FBI.
The Palo Alto Daily News recently reported that Chen’s computer gear has been turned over to the FBI computer forensics lab in Menlo Park where they will examine the machines for any evidence relating to Apple’s report of stolen property. San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe explains that a “court-appointed special master will review the data from the computers and determine what is pertnent to the case.” That information will then be brought back to the court.
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:53 am
The FBI only equips its offices with Macs, so they know how to handle it.
June 4th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Apple did not call the police. A woman friend of the dude who found the phone called the police after he attempted to use her computer to activate it.