ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Seven individuals from Chile have been indicted in a Florida federal court for allegedly masterminding a series of burglaries targeting the residences of well-known professional athletes across the United States, as revealed in a criminal complaint.
While the complaint does not disclose the names of the athletes involved, it references burglaries that have already received media attention, including incidents associated with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Burrow from the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies.
The complaint states that these defendants are linked to a burglary syndicate that “specifically seeks out high-profile sports figures when they are away from their homes.” Allegations indicate that the group stole approximately $2 million worth of goods, which included watches, jewelry, cash, and other valuables, as well as a safe that they successfully breached.
Each individual faces charges of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, a serious offense that could lead to a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. As of Wednesday, it was unclear whether the accused were currently in custody, and records from the Tampa federal court do not appear to indicate that they have legal representation.
The seven 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. The FBI described them as Chilean in the charging documents but does not clarify their citizenship status or whether they have legal residency in the United States.
Some of the suspects were apprehended in January during a traffic stop in Ohio, where they faced state charges for allegedly breaking into Burrow’s home. The federal charges were brought forth in Tampa on January 30.
The evidence compiled in the FBI’s complaint largely stems from data obtained from cell phones, surveillance footage, and license plate recognition technology, reportedly placing the defendants near the locations of the burglaries. Their methods were described as basic, utilizing techniques like breaking windows or prying open sliding doors with crowbars.
According to the FBI affidavit, the burglars typically approach targeted homes from concealed areas such as woods or poorly lit locations prior to executing their break-ins. One unnamed player from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reportedly had around $167,000 worth of property stolen, which included a Rolex watch, a Louis Vuitton suitcase, jewelry, and a firearm.
Additionally, the group documented their actions by taking photographs with some of the stolen items, which the FBI has included in the associated criminal complaints. In one instance, a suspect was photographed wearing a Kansas City Chiefs shirt. The organization often divides into smaller teams to carry out multiple burglaries simultaneously, as noted by the FBI.
“Although burglary groups may consist of four or five members, these smaller units frequently operate together, maintain communication with one another, and frequently utilize the same individuals for selling the stolen goods,” states the FBI affidavit.
