To
understand one of reasons I started this trip with another visit to
Shanghai -- I need to tell the story of an iPad stolen by a US Postal
employee -- but to tell the story, I need to tell you about my good
friend, Chinese citizen - Andy.
When
preparing for my first trip to China in 2009, a friend told me his
dad had taught in China -- and assisted one of his best students
(Andy) to be able to continue his education at Portland State
University (PSU). This friend (and his wife and dad) introduced
me to the student over a fun Chinese lunch in Portland's
International District. Thereafter I sought out opportunities
to have Andy meet my family over more fun meals -- and another
friendship grew.
The
highlight of my October 2013 trip to China was staying
with Andy and traveling
with him
to
his girlfriend's home town (Wenzhou, a 4+ hour train ride south of
Shanghai) and getting to know her family. The highlight of
my September
2015 trip to China was visiting
Andy's parents in their rural village.
Now
to the stolen iPad -- when Andy was in the US, in
May 2012 he mailed
a $700
iPad through the US Mail to China -- and following some bum advice --
he did not insure it. When the empty package was delivered in
China, the iPad was missing. Andy astutely
observed that the package slit had
been covered with US Postal "express mail" taping -- and he
took his suspicions that the theft occurred in the US
Postal system first to the
local Portland police,
then the local US Postal Inspectors. In a relatively short
time, Apple provided the Postal Inspectors the identification of the
Apple ID holder who registered the iPad and followed its trail
to its purchase from a
US Postal bulk mail handler in the San Jose, CA area. The Postal
Inspectors seized the iPad in
April 2013 and were holding it,
refusing to give it back to Andy until the case against the bulk mail
handler was settled.
During
my September 2013 trip, Andy first told me about the stolen iPad and
sought advice in trying to get it returned. I
expressed some misplaced confidence in my ability to spring the iPad
loose from the Postal Inspectors. That confidence quickly got dashed by a very discourteous Assistant
Special Agent in Charge (Janet
Roberson) of
the Postal Inspection Service's Oakland office. Not only did
she officiously refuse to meet with me to even discuss the matter,
she even threatened Andy that the case would be dismissed if he
insisted on the return of the iPad. And
my efforts with the Postal Inspector's Counsel's Office were also
rebuffed.
So
the iPad was retained by the Postal Inspectors for 3 1/2 years until the
case was finally resolved with a plea deal. The thief, through his
attorney, attempted to be keep the iPad in return for monetary
restitution and it became unclear whether he would pay restitution in
lump sum or in a trickle of little payments. So, again I got
involved, this time with the Santa Clara District Attorney's Office
and their Probation Office, where the case was filed. I visited the
courthouse, copied all the reports, and pushed the Assistant District
Attorney for the opportunity to appear on Andy's behalf in the
sentencing hearing (Andy was already back in China).
Thankfully,
the saga ended without me needing to appear -- and the thief made
full cash restitution that
I arranged to get back to Andy. And finally, the iPad was returned
to me on behalf of Andy
So,
that's the long story to explain that I wanted to personally deliver
the iPad back to Andy -- and that's what I did when Andy and I met in
Shanghai the day after I arrived. A satisfying end of the stolen
iPad case – with a great start to my 3rd
trip to Shanghai.
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