Men accused of burglarizing Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s residence took selfies flaunting their stolen loot, which included nearly $300,000 in jewelry, watches, luxury luggage, and eyewear. Among them, one suspect wore jewelry featuring the number 9 and “JB9,” which represents Burrow’s jersey number.
As police stopped their vehicle in Ohio, one of the men attempted to erase the incriminating photos from his cellphone. However, investigators managed to retrieve the images and included them in a federal complaint that was made public on Wednesday.
The investigation has covered multiple states and resulted in the arrests of six individuals. Authorities have described the case as involving South American burglary rings that have specifically targeted affluent homes across the United States, alongside a fencing operation linked to a New York City pawn shop.
Though court documents have not directly associated the December 9 burglary at Burrow’s home with similar thefts from other high-profile athletes, many break-ins exhibit comparable characteristics, and investigations are ongoing. According to the complaint, numerous agencies across the U.S. have exchanged information about such burglaries in recent months.
Victims include NFL players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, as well as NBA stars Luka Doncic and Mike Conley Jr., who have all experienced thefts of luxury items.
On Wednesday, three suspects already indicted by local authorities for the Burrow burglary faced additional charges in a federal grand jury in Cincinnati. They were charged with interstate transport of stolen goods and falsifying records. Information about whether they have legal representation was not immediately available.
The Clark County public defender’s office, which has been acting for the accused in state proceedings, did not respond to requests for comment. All four defendants, identified as Chilean nationals, are reportedly in the U.S. illegally.
Additionally, two other individuals involved in the fencing operation in New York City entered not guilty pleas through their lawyers. Phone records allegedly connected one of them to the Burrow robbery. Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar were recognized by authorities, although Villar’s attorney chose not to comment, and Nezhinskiy’s attorney also did not respond.
Authorities indicated that numerous suspected stolen items were located at the pawn shop owned by Nezhinskiy and in storage units tied to him in New Jersey. Federal officials noted that many of the South American crews responsible for the burglaries are illegally residing in the country or have overstayed their visas. These crews have been targeting affluent neighborhoods near parks, trails, and undeveloped land, typically breaking in through rear access points, such as glass doors or windows, often focusing on jewelry and high-end items while leaving other valuables behind.
This pattern was evident at Burrow’s home, where a security team was present while Burrow and his team played in Dallas. Upon their return, it was discovered that the residence had been vandalized, with a broken window leading to a bedroom.
Footage from a community camera provided to law enforcement showed an individual carrying what appeared to be luggage near Burrow’s property. The complaint detailed how authorities traced the suspects to a hotel in Fairborn, Ohio, using cellphone data and license plate recognition technology. This corroborated the presence of a relevant vehicle seen via license plate tracking.
Local prosecutors arrested four men during a traffic stop: Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez (22), Alexander Esteban Huaiquil-Chavez (24), Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales (23), and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello (38). Sanchez, Morales, and Cabello were indicted by the federal grand jury on Wednesday.
According to federal agents, Sanchez and Cabello told investigators they were on vacation to enjoy the snow, while Huaiquil-Chavez claimed to be visiting Ohio but professed ignorance of their true identities. Notably, Chavez admitted to purchasing a tool for breaking glass at a local Home Depot without offering a reason for the acquisition.
Investigators later discovered multiple photographs on the suspects’ phones, depicting the stolen items taken from Burrow’s residence.
