In a recent development, seven Chilean nationals have been indicted in a federal court in Florida for allegedly executing a series of burglaries targeting the residences of prominent professional athletes across the United States. The charges, as detailed in a criminal complaint, highlight a sophisticated scheme aimed at high-profile individuals when they were away from their homes.
While the complaint does not disclose the names of specific athletes involved, it references notable figures such as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce from the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, along with players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NBA teams Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies. The group is accused of stealing roughly $2 million in valuables, which included watches, jewelry, a significant amount of cash, and even a safe that they managed to crack open.
The indictment includes conspiracy charges related to the interstate transportation of stolen property, each carrying a potential maximum prison term of 10 years. It remains unclear if the defendants are currently in custody, as records from Tampa’s federal court do not indicate whether they have legal representation.
The individuals charged 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 classifies them as Chilean nationals, though it does not clarify if they possess U.S. citizenship or have legal status within the country.
Some members of the group were apprehended earlier in January following a traffic stop in Ohio, where they faced state charges connected to the alleged break-in at Joe Burrow’s home. The federal indictments were subsequently filed on January 30.
Evidence collected against these suspects primarily stems from data obtained through cellphones, surveillance footage, and license plate recognition technology, which reportedly linked them to the locations of the burglaries. The defendants are said to have employed rather rudimentary tactics, such as shattering windows and forcing open sliding glass doors with crowbars.
According to the FBI affidavit, the burglars often camouflaged their approach by utilizing nearby wooded or darker areas before executing the break-ins. One player from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers purportedly lost property valued at around $167,000, which included a luxury Rolex watch, a Louis Vuitton suitcase, jewelry, and a firearm.
Moreover, the alleged thieves documented their exploits with photographs of themselves alongside their stolen goods, some of which were included in the FBI’s complaint. Notably, a suspect was captured in an image wearing a Kansas City Chiefs shirt. This group would typically split into smaller teams to carry out multiple burglaries simultaneously, according to investigative reports.
The affidavit indicates that although these burglary teams may comprise four to five members, they often collaborate, maintain communication, and utilize the same individuals for selling the stolen items, illustrating a well-organized criminal operation at work.
