Milford, CT – A Milford man arrested for allegedly orchestrating an insurance fraud scheme to obtain new Apple iPhones.
Esmaylin Delacruz, 37, was taken into custody on January 30, 2025, following a months-long investigation by the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force. Authorities say Delacruz systematically filed fraudulent insurance claims to receive replacement iPhones, which he then allegedly resold.
The investigation began in March 2024 after Asurion Insurance Services flagged suspicious patterns of claims originating from the New Haven and Milford areas. According to an arrest warrant, multiple replacement devices were activated on international networks, raising concerns of illicit resale operations.
Police believe Delacruz employed individuals to open accounts with wireless carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, in order to file fake insurance claims. A search of his residence in November 2024 uncovered several iPhones allegedly obtained through fraud, with their combined value estimated at $50,000. Authorities estimate the total value of iPhones fraudulently obtained since 2020 to be approximately $400,000.
Delacruz faces multiple charges, including first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny, and insurance fraud. He was held on a $75,000 bond and appeared in Milford Superior Court on January 31, 2025.
Authorities continue to investigate the extent of the scheme, warning that insurance fraud cases like this contribute to increased costs for consumers and insurers.
