US accuses alleged member of Russian smuggling ring of using AirTags to stalk his ex-wife

Tajik citizen Ibodullo Muhiddinov Numanovich likely smuggled his ex-wife into the United States through the network he was supposed to work for, according to court documents. He was indicted by a grand jury in May on one count of stalking by placing his ex-wife, referred to as SK in court documents, under electronic surveillance and “sending threatening voice messages” that caused her to reasonably fear death or death. serious injuries. He pleaded not guilty.

In this case, Numanovich allegedly placed seven AirTags on a car that SK used between March and April of this year. According to the government, they were hidden throughout the car, including in the side mirror housing and under the front bumper.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation eventually used the AirTags to monitor Numanovich's actions, seeing when he would place them or check on them. The government claimed that Apple records linked Numanovich to one of the AirTags.

After his indictment, law enforcement executed a search warrant and said they found a file on his phone containing approximately 140 “sexually explicit photographs and videos” of his ex-wife, which he allegedly threatened to release if she did not follow his requests.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.