Apple Security Chief Offered iPads to Police as a Bribe for Gun Permits, Prosecutors Allege
November 23 2020 - 7:44PM
Dow Jones News
By Zusha Elinson and Tim Higgins
Apple Inc.'s head of security has been indicted on bribery
charges for a scheme in which prosecutors allege he offered iPads
to secure gun permits for his company's employees.
Thomas Moyer allegedly promised to give 200 iPads to the Santa
Clara County Sheriff's Office to get four concealed carry licenses,
according to Jeffrey Rosen, district attorney of the Bay Area
county where Apple is based. The charges are part of a broader
probe into the sheriff's office.
Two high-ranking sheriff's office officials, Undersheriff Rick
Sung and Captain James Jensen, were indicted on a charge of
requesting the bribe. The two men held back on issuing the permits
until Mr. Moyer "agreed to donate close to $70,000 worth of iPads,"
said Mr. Rosen. "The donation was pulled back at the eleventh hour
when our search warrants into this probe began."
Ed Swanson, an attorney for Mr. Moyer, who runs global security
at Apple, said his client was innocent and that the indictment was
the result of a continuing dispute between the district attorney
and the sheriff.
"It is true that Apple was looking into donating iPads to
support the sheriff's new training facility. It is true that Apple
applied for and received [concealed carry] permits," said Mr.
Swanson. "There is no connection between those two things."
Chuck Smith, an attorney for Mr. Sung, said that his client "has
not broken any law and has not committed any acts which would be
illegal, unethical, or immoral." An attorney for Mr. Jensen didn't
respond to requests for comment.
"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
spokeswoman said in an email.
The majority of states require that concealed carry permits be
issued to those who apply unless they are barred from owning a gun.
But in California, local authorities have more discretion. Mr.
Rosen's office is conducting a larger investigation of the Santa
Clara County Sheriff's Office, which patrols parts of Silicon
Valley, for allegedly extracting bribes and political donations in
exchange for the permits.
"As law enforcement officers, we are held to the highest moral
and ethical standards," Sheriff Laurie Smith said in a statement.
"This is a difficult time for our organization, however our goal
remains to provide the highest level of public safety to the
residents of Santa Clara County."
Write to Zusha Elinson at zusha.elinson@wsj.com and Tim Higgins
at Tim.Higgins@WSJ.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 23, 2020 19:29 ET (00:29 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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