Malibu’s Surfrider Beach was one of the places where surfers had their phones and cards stolen. Photo: Jeremy Bishop // Unsplash
A man is set to be sentenced for stealing surfers’ phones and bank cards from their cars. Moundir Kamil, 56, of Orange County, orchestrated a scheme that saw him steal almost $1 million from surfers at beaches in San Diego County, Malibu, Manhattan Beach and others.
As CBS8 reports, Kamil and two co-defendants pleaded guilty in September to one federal count each of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, attempted bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
From April 2021 to December 2022, the group carried out a scheme where a spotter on the beach would confirm when a surfer had entered the water, then signal to another accomplice, who would break into the surfer’s unattended car. Their phone and wallet were retrieved and passed on to Kamil, who would proceed to gain access to the phone’s financial apps. After bank accounts, crypto wallets, and other money holding programs were emptied, the person’s stolen bank cards would then be used to purchase luxury goods and electronics. When credit card companies would call to check on the fraudulent activity, the thieves would answer the phones and approve the purchases.
This is not Kamil’s first time appearing before the court, either. He has previously been convicted multiple times, including for stealing a tax refund check for more than $1 million dollars from Donald Bren, chairman of the Irvine Company. Federal prosecutors characterized him as a career criminal, writing that, “This demonstrated history of recidivism along with the nature of the instant offense that spanned over multiple years and involved multiple victims establish a deep entrenchment in criminal activity and the defendant’s willingness to put his interests above that of society’s time and time again.”
Sentencing for Kamil is expected to take place Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles.
