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Apple Exec Stashed $150,000 In Shoe Boxes

angry tapir writes "US federal agents found more than US$150,000 in cash when they searched the house of Apple manager Paul Devine earlier this month, according to prosecutors. 'He had over $150,000 stored in shoe boxes,' Department of Justice Attorney Michelle Kane said. Devine was charged two weeks ago with taking kickbacks from Apple suppliers."

33 of 345 comments (clear)

  1. Introducing the... by theheff · · Score: 5, Funny

    iBox?

    1. Re:Introducing the... by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Funny

      iBox?

      iMbezzle?

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    2. Re:Introducing the... by InlawBiker · · Score: 5, Funny

      He could have used the money to buy a Macbook Pro. If you max out the specs they come out pretty close to $150k.

  2. No app for that? by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Hmm...seems like there should be an app for that??

    Seriously, if this guy was socking cash back and wanted to hide it from the feds, why didn't he think of better hiding places?

    Heck, just watching the Sopranos would give you some better ideas for cash placement than shoe boxes all over the house.

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    1. Re:No app for that? by erroneus · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Perhaps he just didn't think he would get caught since the money wasn't going through banks. After all, that's pretty much what I would do. Actually, that's where I would start. Then I would probably set up some sort of business, accept "cash payment" for whatever services rendered and then pay some taxes to make it all look legitimate. I know... that just makes too much sense, but then again, I believe my greed has limits where many others' does not.

    2. Re:No app for that? by jeffmeden · · Score: 4, Informative

      Perhaps he just didn't think he would get caught since the money wasn't going through banks. After all, that's pretty much what I would do. Actually, that's where I would start. Then I would probably set up some sort of business, accept "cash payment" for whatever services rendered and then pay some taxes to make it all look legitimate. I know... that just makes too much sense, but then again, I believe my greed has limits where many others' does not.

      Ah, er, hey old article, help me out here... "The alleged scheme used an elaborate chain of US and foreign bank accounts and one front company to receive payments, the indictment said, and code words like 'sample' were used to refer to the payments so that Apple co-workers wouldn't become suspicious."

      Sounds like he thought of everything except what to do with the money once it was in his hands. What ever happened to burying it?

    3. Re:No app for that? by Haffner · · Score: 4, Informative

      People lacking a significant criminal background ALWAYS tend to be stupid when it comes to hiding cash. Especially once you reach a certain amount where hiding it within your house requires multiple hiding spots. Wall sockets, light switches, and inside of old, large electronics (CRT monitors, VHS players) with difficult-to-remove siding are all viable home storage locations. Then again, it really depends on what your goals are. If you want to hide money so well that no one will find it, get some custom furniture with places to hide cash that can be built around the cash, so the couch (or table, sometimes) must be physically destroyed to access it.

      Most people who store lots of cash tend to be stupid about it. They place it in a location that is difficult for them to get to, say, under some boxes, or in the back of the closet. Thing is, someone who wants that cash couldn't care less about what they destroy in the process to get it.

      /tinfoil hat on/ Ideally, to hide large sums of cash in your home, you need to determine what percent must be easily accessible, accessible, and largely inaccessible. Easily accessible means that it takes you less than a minute to get to it. A 500 count jar of advil is a great place to store a roll of cash, and then pour the pills back over it. (Also have some underneath). Food containers also work well for this (Cereal, milk jug, etc).

      For accessible, but not easily so, you have more options. Generally, this category can fall into "Things with screws." As previously mentioned, a CRT monitor or VHS player with removable back/side/bottom works wonders for hiding things. My favorite was a radio receiver from 1980 that went with some other stereo equipment. It had 6 screws on the bottom, and there was a thin space for hiding something flat between it and the circuit board. The panel was slightly smaller than the gap, too, so you could see the circuit board 1cm away, but the panel was big enough to hide any cash. Another great place is to take your door off the wall, remove the hinges (from the wall) and drill into that area. It is easy cut in deep enough to store something. Lastly, most light switches or wall outlets have a small gap in the wall, which is perfect for storing a roll. Oh, and also, a favorite: Get 2 fairly large cuts of prewrapped meat at the supermarket, and unwrap them. Throw 1 away, and keep the white bottom tray. Put some cash between that tray and the other one (with the meat on it) and then press the edges together, put the meat back on top, and then wrap it really tightly (even better to reuse the wrap it came with) and then throw it in the freezer.

      /tinfoil hat off

      --
      "Going to war without the French is like going deer hunting without your accordion." ~General Norman Schwarzkopf
    4. Re:No app for that? by crakbone · · Score: 3, Interesting

      More than likely that is not the money, just emergency cash in case he needs to split. I knew of a billionaire that had over 20 million in his garage. It saved him when a partner froze all his bank accounts by court order.

    5. Re:No app for that? by Haffner · · Score: 5, Funny

      I doubt anything is going to happen. In fact, I thi- brb, weird noises coming from my back door.

      --
      "Going to war without the French is like going deer hunting without your accordion." ~General Norman Schwarzkopf
    6. Re:No app for that? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      (posting as AC for reasons that will become obvious)

      BZZZZT! wrong!

      I have to take exception to several of your suggested hiding places. I used to BE a thief, I've commited B&E on dozens of homes in my mis-spent youth and in most cases, I was not alone. I can tell you that the image of the stupid, poor, stupid, lazy and stupid urban youth boosting your shit to buy drugs is bang on. (did I mention stupid?) Back when I was breaking into homes, I was looking for the following (in order) drugs, cash, non-custom and non-monogram jewellry, easily fenced/bartered electronics, meat, especially roasts, steaks etc, and finally lingerie.

      Here's the logic behind each:
      Drugs: well duh! you'd be amazed at the number of homes we found worthwhile quantities of weed in, and trust me, druggie thieves develop a good sense for where you're likely to keep your stash, since you're likely to be stupid and lazy about hiding it too. Even if we find something that we have no interest in ourselves, we always know someone who'd be happy to take it off our hands.
      Cash is obviously the least traceable, most fungible and most value-dense item there is.
      Jewellry, it's a lot harder than the media would have to believe to find a straight out-and-out fence, and even when you do, they never give more than a small percentage of the actual value.(5% would be generous) That said, there is usually a friend or a local drug dealer who is interested in buying your swag as gifts for the girlfriend, or more likely, taking in trade to cover your drug tab.
      Electronics: Back then it was all about component stero systems and this new high end format called CD, even if I didn't know anyone who would buy it, plenty of guys would just take it home for themselves. Again, there is often a buddy or drug dealer who will barter with you. The thief may not find your stashed cash, but you're still out both cash and stereo aren't you? Back then video game cartridges were guaranteed to walk out the door with us, except for Donkey King 'cause everybody already had that one.
      Meat: meat is an expensive, value-dense item. A lot of these guys practically live on "pogie-bait" and have a girlfriend and some bastard kid(s) to feed. Every 20$ he can shave off the food budget is another dime bag or rock he can score for himself. Besides, the freezer is one of the best places to look for cash... "Bringin home the bacon" is also a good way to shut up that nagging bitch and convince her you are actually providing for her and the brat(s)

      Thieves are lazy, we almost never steal your furniture 'cause it's fucking heavy! Unless you got yourself a new or almost new black leather sectional or something, we ain't going to touch it. (I've never undertsood my fellow scumbags fascination with leather furniture and brass n' glass accent furniture as a status item) The safest piece of furniture? that ratty looking sofa couch you have in the spare room.

      One last thought: a lot of thieves will just fuck you over on anything they can't steal. i.e. too much meat in the freezer to steal? we'll just unplug it. Take a shit between your mattress and box spring, Scrub our anus with your toothbrush, jerk off in the ladies lingerie. (that which we haven't crammed into our pockets as a gift our own girlfriends.) Whatever sounds like shits n' giggles to the druggie at the time. So don't stash any cash in easily breakable/vandalized items. I've *seen* grandma's ashes get flung all over the living rooms white shag carpet just because, so her urn is not a good hidie-hole.

      My recommendation for a hiding place? Take off the toekick of your kitchen lower cabinets and replace the nails with super magnets and metal plates. There is a phenomenal amount of space for cash, guns whathaveyou and no thief would waste enough time in the home to get around to checking that.
      This is useless for hiding anything from the authorities of course. For them it's not a value vs effort thing, if they suspect you have something hiding in your home, they can take as long as they want taking things down to the bare studs, even x-raying things if they think it's worthwhile. Nothing within your legal property lines would be secure.

    7. Re:No app for that? by StripedCow · · Score: 3, Funny

      The amount of thought you have put into that is a little unnerving.

      Well, he probably didn't use these techniques to hide money, but merely to hide pron for his mom.

      --
      If Pandora's box is destined to be opened, *I* want to be the one to open it.
  3. Home Banking at its best by PalmKiller · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Maybe he just don't trust banks to be to big to fail anymore.

    1. Re:Home Banking at its best by cellocgw · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Even so, storing loot in shoe-boxes is not the action one would expect of an innocent man.
      Humbly beg to differ, for two reasons.
      First, there are plenty of people who, for whatever reason are hoarders and/or don't trust banks. That doesn't make them criminals.
      Second, and more important: it's not (yet...) illegal to possess US currency. Period. Fuck the "it looks suspicious so it must be illegal" jackasses.
      Now, if a valid search warrant, including some phrase like "evidence of unearned wealth" is in place, then there's an excuse to impound the cash.

      --
      https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
  4. he's not the brightest... by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There are lots of ways to securely stash cash. shoeboxes under the bed are not one of them. a run to home depot for a post hole digger, some PVC pipe and caps = a money safe the feds wont find.

    Although this guy does not look like the type that knows how to run a complex device like a shovel.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:he's not the brightest... by vlm · · Score: 4, Interesting

      There are lots of ways to securely stash cash. shoeboxes under the bed are not one of them. a run to home depot for a post hole digger, some PVC pipe and caps = a money safe the feds wont find.

      Small gold coins are much more waterproof. Being able to find with a metal detector, is a double edged sword.

      --
      "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
    2. Re:he's not the brightest... by dintech · · Score: 5, Funny

      More generally, we Slashdotters suck at laundering.

    3. Re:he's not the brightest... by Zocalo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You are assuming that is all that he managed to take in bribes. For all we know, the money in the shoe boxes was the contents of his last briefcase full of used, non-sequential notes and he just hadn't had a chance to transfer it to a better location before he was arrested. If he's been doing this long enough, it's entirely possible that he could have taken several million dollars by now...

      --
      UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
    4. Re:he's not the brightest... by Graff · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Small gold coins are much more waterproof. Being able to find with a metal detector, is a double edged sword.

      You could always go with precious gems, they are both non-metallic and waterproof.

      However, PVC would work just fine for paper money. You seal the end caps with PVC glue and include some desiccant material in the pipe to dry up any traces of moisture. Cloth packets filled with activated carbon which have been dried at low temperatures in the oven works very well at adsorbing moisture, volatile organics, it'll even suck up some of the oxygen in the tube.

  5. Re:Not guilty??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    A friend of mine told the story of his grandfather hording cash. Seems his grandpa was the mayor and, well, you get the idea. The cash was kept in a cabinet in the kitchen.

    One day grandma comes home to find him and grandpa playing monopoly with real money. She was not amused.

  6. Re:Not guilty??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    We probably have about $150,000 in shoeboxes in my apartment. Unfortunately, they're in the form of my wife's shoes.

  7. It was actually a simple mix up... by physicsphairy · · Score: 5, Funny

    The balance on his bank account was 12 dozen shoes.

  8. Re:Mattress! by Ironhandx · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Mattress or Shoe boxes, either one is safer than a lot of banks or investment firms these days.

  9. Re:Slow Day for Negative Apple News? by whisper_jeff · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Um, I hate the obviously anti-Apple news as much as the next Apple fanboi but this is hardly negative Apple news. In fact, I can't find even a vague hint of anything negative being directed at Apple in this situation.

    More so, this is kind of a big deal in the geek and tech industry. If this doesn't qualify as news than I have absolutely no understanding of the word. I would say that the employee of one of the top tech companies being caught in a scam where he made off with over $1 million dollars is quite certainly news for nerds and stuff that matters.

  10. Inflation by DocSavage64109 · · Score: 5, Informative

    One of the problems with stashing $150,000 in cash is that you lose some $4,500/yr (or more) due to inflation. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Historical_Inflation_Ancient.svg

    1. Re:Inflation by oldspewey · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Hey, that beats the hell out of losing $60,000/yr due to insolvent banks and plummeting securities.

      --
      If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
    2. Re:Inflation by Primitive+Pete · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And it is WAY better than losing 100% to the feds.

  11. Re:can't trust banks anymore by JSBiff · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Oh so many jokes, and rightly. But. I will say this - even if you've made money legitimately, I'd say there's good reason to keep a little cash on hand. It's rare, but not unheard of (especially in recent years) for banks to fail. If I had a million or more, I think I'd like to keep 100,000 or so available as cash on hand, in case the rest of my money either got frozen temporarily (e.g. while the FDIC or other government or law enforcement agency takes over the bank and does an investigation), or disappears forever.

    I don't think, however, I'd keep it in shoeboxes. Safe vaults were invented for a reason.

  12. But Now They're Just Another Corrupt Company by eldavojohn · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Um, I hate the obviously anti-Apple news as much as the next Apple fanboi but this is hardly negative Apple news. In fact, I can't find even a vague hint of anything negative being directed at Apple in this situation.

    That's odd, this story causes me to wonder how much corruption is rampant at Apple if we scratch the surface and find shoe boxes with cash ... whatever the case here in the US, this certainly illustrates the growing problems that Apple and many other companies are having with foreign counterparts guilty of "when in Rome" infractions against ethics and business.

    I used to think "Made in America" when I bought an Apple product. Then after realizing it was all coming from Taiwan and China I thought "Invented in America, Made in China" but I still imagined this premium I was paying lead to good American ethics and proper treatment of employees to consumers. The deaths of nine or more plastics workers in Apple's iPhone supplier followed by a million in kickbacks being stored in shoe boxes by a corrupt Apple Manager and suddenly I realize that buying Apple just means you're paying a premium on something that might provide you a better experience but really employs all the same corruption inherent in almost any very large business.

    While I'm not faulting Apple anymore than -- say -- Samsung or Sony, they've dropped from high standards of worker and consumer ethics all the way down to 'one of the rest.' Maybe they're simply too big to control that now but you better believe this is negative to someone like me. I've only ever bought (to my knowledge) iPod shuffles as gifts and a single exclusive album on iTunes but you won't catch me buying anything else from them for a while.

    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. Re:But Now They're Just Another Corrupt Company by Lunix+Nutcase · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The deaths of nine or more plastics workers in Apple's iPhone supplier

      Who is also the same supplier of Dell, Microsoft, Logitech, HP, Intel, etc on and on. Why do you only single out Apple out of all of Foxconn's customers?

  13. "kickbacks"? by v1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    from TFA:

    Prosecutors say that Devine shared confidential information on Apple products such as the iPod and iPhone in exchange for cash kickbacks. He allegedly provided suppliers with projected sales figures, data on how much it cost Apple to produce the products, and pricing bids from supply chain competitors.

    This looks a lot more like "corporate espionage" than "kickbacks". I usually consider kickbacks to mean that he accepted bribes from clients for favoritism. But this guy was basically getting paid to spy on his employer and provide intelligence.

    --
    I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
  14. There's always money... by snookerhog · · Score: 5, Funny

    in the Banana Stand

  15. Re:Dear Slashdot... by colinrichardday · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sir, I am an exiled Nigerian prince who needs some assistance in a financial transaction . . .

  16. Re:Mattress! by Inner_Child · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...The banana stand?

    --
    Today is red jello day - all workers must eat all of their red jello. Failure to comply will result in five demerits.