In St. Petersburg, Florida, seven men from Chile have been indicted in a federal court for allegedly masterminding a series of burglaries targeting the residences of well-known professional athletes across the United States, as outlined in a federal complaint.
The identities of the athletes involved were not disclosed in the complaint; however, it referenced burglaries associated with prominent players such as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NBA teams Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies.
The document reveals that the group is part of a ring specializing in burglarizing high-profile athletes’ homes during times when they are away. Allegedly, the group made off with approximately $2 million worth of stolen goods, which comprised watches, jewelry, cash, and other valuables, including a safe that they managed to break into.
All seven suspects are charged with conspiracy to engage in interstate transportation of stolen property, which could result in a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. It remains uncertain whether any of the defendants are currently in custody as Tampa federal court records do not list legal representation for them.
The individuals named in the complaint include Pablo Zuniga Cartes, 24; Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, 20; Bastian Jimenez Freraut, 27; Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, 22; Bastian Orellano Morales, 23; Alexander Huiaguil Chavez, 24; and Sergio Ortega Cabello, 38. Although they are identified as Chilean, the documents do not clarify their status regarding U.S. citizenship or legality in the country.
Several of these men were detained in January following a traffic stop in Ohio where they faced state charges for the alleged break-in at Burrow’s home. The federal charges in Tampa were subsequently filed on January 30.
Evidence supporting the FBI’s claims heavily relies on cellphone records, surveillance footage, and automatic license plate readers that reportedly place the suspects close to the sites of the burglaries. The gang often utilized simple techniques such as smashing windows or forcefully opening sliding glass doors with crowbars.
The FBI affidavit reveals that the burglars typically approach the targeted homes using cover, such as wooded or dark areas, prior to executing their break-ins. An unnamed Tampa Bay Buccaneers player was reportedly a victim of property theft amounting to around $167,000, with stolen items including a Rolex watch, a Louis Vuitton suitcase, jewelry, and a firearm.
Moreover, the group was known to take selfies with some of the stolen items, evidence that was included in the warrant. In one instance, a suspect was spotted wearing apparel representing the Kansas City Chiefs. The burglars often splinter into smaller units to simultaneously carry out multiple thefts, as stated by the FBI.
The FBI affidavit also highlights that, although these burglary crews may consist of four or five members, they frequently coordinate their efforts, maintain communication, and share the same outlets for selling their stolen goods.
