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

According to court documents, Tajikistan citizen Ibodullo Muhiddinov Numanovich probably smuggled his ex-wife to the US through the network he allegedly worked for. He was indicted by a grand jury in May on a charge of stalking, 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 serious injury. He pleaded not guilty.

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigation ended up using the AirTags to monitor Numanovich’s actions, seeing when he would put them on or check them. The government alleged that Apple records linked Numanovich to one of the AirTags.

Following his indictment, authorities executed a search warrant and said they found a folder on his phone with approximately 140 “sexually explicit photographs and videos” of his ex-wife, which he allegedly threatened to release if she did not follow his demands. .

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.