Apple's Global Security Chief Cleared of Bribery Charges Following Accusation of Scheme to Trade iPads for Gun Permits

Apple's global security chief, Thomas Moyer, has been cleared by a California judge of bribery charges following accusations that the security chief participated in a scheme to donate 200 iPads worth $75,000 to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office in exchange for concealed gun permits, Reuters reports.

apple park drone june 2018 2
According to the charges brought forward in November, Moyer agreed to donate 200 iPads to the Sheriff's office in exchange for concealed gun permits for Apple's security team at a 2019 meeting. Furthermore, according to prosecutors, Moyer acted upon the request of Santa Clara County Undersheriff Rick Sung, who allegedly threatened to withhold the permits unless the iPads were donated.

Ultimately, a California judge believed that the iPad donations offered by Moyer came as a misunderstanding. According to the judge, by the time Moyer had offered the iPads, he was under the belief that the permits were already issued, rather than the iPads being a requirement for their issuance.

Judge Eric S. Geffon of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County found on Tuesday that Moyer had been in talks with the Sheriff's Office about permits for more than a year by the time of the 2019 meeting. By then, Geffon wrote, the evidence suggests Moyer believed the permits were already approved and would be issued soon.

Judge Eric S. Geffon also further noted that the argument against Moyer is "pure speculation" and "not supported by the evidence presented to the grand jury." Moyer, in a statement, thanked the court for "giving this case such careful consideration, and for allowing me to move forward with my life."

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Popular Stories

iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Thursday January 15, 2026 10:56 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026: The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

Wednesday January 14, 2026 7:09 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around eight months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, Macs, and More

Thursday January 15, 2026 11:19 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the United States, according to the company's website. Most of the values declined slightly, but some of the Mac values increased. iPhone ...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

These 5 Apple Products Will Reportedly Be Upgraded With OLED Displays

Friday January 16, 2026 7:07 pm PST by
Apple plans to upgrade the iPad mini, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, iMac, and MacBook Air with OLED displays between 2026 and 2028, according to DigiTimes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that the iPad mini and MacBook Pro will receive an OLED display as early as this year, but he does not expect the MacBook Air to adopt the technology until 2028 at the earliest. A new iPad Air is...
Verizon New

Verizon Offering $20 Credit After Major Outage, Here's How to Get It

Thursday January 15, 2026 7:37 am PST by
Verizon today announced it will be offering customers a $20 account credit after a major outage on Wednesday, and action is required to receive it. The carrier said affected customers can accept the credit by logging into the My Verizon app, but it might take some time before this option shows up in the app. Affected customers will receive a text message when the credit is available. On...

Top Rated Comments

Quu Avatar
61 months ago

Why does Apple want gun permits? Aren’t they anti-2A? Or is that just for us poor peasants? They should be able to have guns in their death star?
It's for their trained security people who they pay to protect their interests and their executives. Tim Cook alone has had people break into the grounds of his home on several occasions and Apple pays millions in security every year.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ian87w Avatar
61 months ago
Wait, it's the county who "requested" for the iPads, no? Apple shouldn't be guilty if it's already proven that the corrupt county was the one demanding for it. Plus, Moyer went through the proper procedures internally for the donations. People should be looking at the county officers.

https://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/santa-clara-co-undersheriff-indicted-in-ccw-case/

People in California should be asking themselves about the corrupt officers, and why they were in their positions.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPack Avatar
61 months ago
Smart move. See, this is how you're supposed to skirt the law.

You send the "gifts" after the application has been approved. The permits need to be renewed every 2 years and can be revoked at any time. It's about trust on both sides.

Apple always donates iPads to Sheriff's Offices around the country, don't they? ?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
msp3 Avatar
61 months ago

Why does Apple want gun permits? Aren’t they anti-2A? Or is that just for us poor peasants? They should be able to have guns in their death star?
YOU are not allowed to have guns, you are not allowed to have a public police that maintains the rule of law, you are not allowed to have a secure boarder free from invasion. Meanwhile, THEY have private security forces, they live in gated communities with armed guards ready to shoot you dead, and they fly around the world in private jets while making more money than ever before impoverishing the working person. So liberal, loving, and progressive!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lostngone Avatar
61 months ago

Why does Apple want gun permits? Aren’t they anti-2A? Or is that just for us poor peasants? They should be able to have guns in their death star?
I believe it is along the lines of “Guns for me but not for thee”. Guns are only bad when other people have them but Apple needs them.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jimthing Avatar
61 months ago

What kinda exchange transaction is that? Why is Apple even getting involve in this?
It wasn't a transaction. That's literally the whole point.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)