Apple security chief accused of bribing agents in exchange for firearms licenses



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Steve Proehl | Corbis Unreleased | Getty Images

A grand jury in Santa Clara, Calif., Issued an indictment on Monday accusing Apple security chief Thomas Moyer of offering bribes to obtain concealed transport permits for the Apple employees.

Moyer reportedly promised to donate 200 iPads worth $ 70,000 to the Sheriff’s Office in exchange for four Concealed Weapons Licenses (CCWs) “denied to Apple employees,” according to a press release from the US attorney’s office. Santa Clara District, Jeff Rosen.

Tom Moyer is innocent of the charges against him. He did nothing wrong and acted with the utmost integrity throughout his career. We have no doubt that he will be acquitted at the trial, ”Moyer’s lawyer Ed Swanson said in a statement to CNBC.

“We expect all of our employees to conduct themselves with integrity. After learning of the allegations, we conducted a thorough internal investigation and found no wrongdoing,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement. communicated.

The charges filed on Monday are part of a 2019 investigation into whether or not the Santa Clara sheriff is using concealed port permits to help solicit bribes and political donations. The Sheriff’s Office covers Cupertino, California, where Apple’s corporate headquarters are located. Moyer has worked at Apple for 14 years and is now responsible for global security, his lawyer said on Monday.

The Santa Clara DA said that while state law states that people who receive concealed carry permits in California must demonstrate “good cause,” take a firearms course and be of good character, the sheriff has the final say in determining should qualify.

“Ultimately, this case is about a long, bitter and very public dispute between the Santa Clara County Sheriff and the District Attorney, and Tom is collateral damage to this dispute,” Swanson said in a statement on behalf of by Moyer.

The Santa Clara DA alleges that officials from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Sheriff Rick Sung and Captain James Jensen, were part of a scheme where they solicited bribes in exchange for easier approval of concealed permits. An insurance broker with political connections in San Jose was also accused of offering bribes in exchange for a license on Monday.

In 2020, an NBC Bay Area survey found that donors to the Santa Clara sheriff’s political campaigns were about 14 times more likely to get a concealed gun license than those who did not contribute. Sheriff Laurie Smith has not been charged. Previously, four people were charged with conspiracy and bribery in August following the investigation.

The promised iPad donation was never fulfilled, according to the Santa Clara DA, as it was scuttled after a search warrant was executed for port files hidden at the sheriff’s office in August 2019.

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