ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Seven individuals from Chile have been indicted in a federal court in Florida for allegedly leading a burglary operation that targeted the residences of well-known professional athletes across the United States, as detailed in a recent criminal complaint.
While the complaint does not specify the names of the athletes involved, it does reference high-profile cases that have previously made headlines, including those of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce from the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Burrow from the Cincinnati Bengals, along with players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and members of the NBA teams, the Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies.
The complaint accuses the defendants of being part of a burglary network that specifically aims at high-profile athletes when they are away from their homes. The group allegedly stole approximately $2 million worth of items, including luxury watches, jewelry, cash, and other valuables, with one incident involving the theft of a safe that was subsequently opened.
Each defendant faces charges of conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines, which could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. As of now, it remains unclear whether any of the defendants are in custody, and the federal court records in Tampa do not indicate any legal representation for them.
The individuals named in the allegations 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 the FBI classifies them as Chilean nationals in the court documents, there is no information regarding their citizenship status or legal standing in the United States.
Some of the suspects were apprehended in January following a traffic stop in Ohio related to state charges stemming from the alleged burglary of Burrow’s home. The federal charges in Tampa were submitted on January 30.
Evidence presented in the FBI’s complaint largely draws from cellphone data, surveillance footage, and license plate recognition technology that purportedly situates the defendants near the burglary sites. The defendants are reported to have employed rudimentary methods for their break-ins, which included smashing windows or prying open sliding glass doors using crowbars.
According to the FBI affidavit, the burglars typically approach their targets from concealed areas, such as wooded or dimly lit locations. One unnamed player from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is said to have had possessions valued at approximately $167,000 stolen, including a Rolex, a Louis Vuitton suitcase, various pieces of jewelry, and a firearm.
Interestingly, the group reportedly took selfies with some of the stolen items, with the FBI including these photos in the complaint. In one instance, a suspect can be seen sporting a Kansas City Chiefs shirt. The burglars frequently operate in smaller teams to execute multiple thefts, according to the FBI’s findings.
“Although these burglary crews may comprise four to five members, they frequently function in coordination, maintain communication among themselves, and share the same sources for selling the stolen goods,” states the FBI affidavit.
