Seven men from Chile have been indicted in a federal court in Florida, accused of leading a series of burglaries targeting the residences of high-profile athletes across the United States, as stated in a recent criminal complaint.
The complaint, filed by the FBI, does not disclose the specific names of the athletes but references several well-publicized thefts involving NFL stars such as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, as well as Joe Burrow from the Cincinnati Bengals. It also notes incidents involving players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NBA teams including the Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies.
According to the provided details in the complaint, the accused individuals form part of a theft gang known for preying on high-profile sports figures when they are away from their homes. Allegedly, the group pilfered approximately $2 million in valuable items like watches, jewelry, cash, and even a safe they managed to breach.
Each of the seven men faces charges for conspiracy related to the interstate transportation of stolen goods, a charge that could result in a maximum prison term of ten years if convicted. As of Wednesday, it remains unclear if any of the accused are currently in custody, and records from the Tampa federal court do not indicate any legal representation for them.
The accused individuals are identified as 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. While the charging documents classify them as Chilean nationals, it is unclear if they possess U.S. citizenship or have legal residency in the country.
Several members of the group were detained in January following a traffic stop in Ohio linked to their alleged involvement in the burglary of Burrow’s residence, with federal charges in Tampa being formally registered on January 30.
Much of the supporting evidence highlighted in the FBI complaint is derived from cellphone tracking, surveillance footage, and license plate recognition technology, all purportedly indicating the men’s presence near the crime scenes. They reportedly employed basic burglary techniques such as shattering windows or forcing open patio doors with crowbars.
The affidavit details how the perpetrators would approach the targeted homes from concealed areas like wooded regions or poorly lit spots before executing the break-ins. For instance, a player from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had around $167,000 in valuables stolen, which included a Rolex watch, a Louis Vuitton suitcase, a collection of jewelry, and a firearm.
Notably, the group would document themselves with some of the stolen items, and the FBI included these photographs in their filed complaint. In one instance, a suspect is shown wearing gear affiliated with the Kansas City Chiefs. The FBI asserts that although these burglary crews might consist of four to five members, they frequently collaborate and communicate with each other while utilizing the same channels for selling the stolen goods.
