ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A federal court in Florida has charged seven Chilean individuals in connection with a series of burglaries targeting the homes of notable professional athletes across the United States, as detailed in a criminal complaint filed by the FBI.
Although the complaint refrains from explicitly naming the athletes involved, it references publicly known incidents involving high-profile players like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce from the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Burrow from the Cincinnati Bengals, and others from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies.
The complaint describes the accused as members of an organized burglary ring, specifically targeting famous athletes whose residences they believe are unoccupied. Allegedly, they have stolen around $2 million worth of various items, including watches, jewelry, cash, and even a safe that they managed to break into.
Each of the seven individuals faces charges of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, a crime that could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. As of now, it’s unclear whether any of the accused are currently detained, and records from the Tampa federal court do not indicate the presence of legal representation for them.
The men facing charges 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 FBI categorizes them as originating from Chile in the documents, it remains unspecified whether any of them hold U.S. citizenship or possess valid legal status in the country.
Some members of the group were apprehended in January following a traffic stop in Ohio while facing state-level charges for allegedly breaking into Burrow’s home. Subsequently, federal charges were filed in Tampa on January 30.
Much of the evidence cited in the complaint stems from cellphone records, surveillance footage, and license plate monitoring systems that allegedly track the defendants in relation to the burglaries. The group reportedly employed straightforward and aggressive tactics, such as breaking windows and forcing open sliding glass doors with crowbars.
The FBI affidavit describes the burglars as utilizing nearby cover, including wooded or dimly lit areas, before executing their break-ins. For instance, one player from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had approximately $167,000 in valuables stolen, which included a Rolex watch, a Louis Vuitton suitcase, jewelry, and a firearm.
Interestingly, the group also took photographs showcasing themselves with some of the stolen items—a detail included in the FBI’s complaint. In one such instance, a suspect is observed wearing a Kansas City Chiefs shirt. Reports indicate that the group often splits into smaller factions to carry out multiple burglaries simultaneously, with the FBI stating, “Although burglary groups may consist of four or five members, these smaller units frequently collaborate, maintain communication, and utilize common buyers for their stolen goods.”
