Federal prosecutors in Tampa on Tuesday charged seven purported members of a South American theft group that allegedly focused the properties of Kansas Metropolis Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce and different skilled athletes across the nation.
Based on the criticism, the lads had been members of a South American theft group that burglarized the properties of athletes within the NFL and NBA whereas they had been away or taking part in video games on the time. The defendants are accused of stealing valuables value greater than $2 million, in response to the criticism.
The defendants — 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, all of Chile — had been charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. If convicted, they every face a most of 10 years in jail.
The criticism features a {photograph} of three of the defendants — Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes and Freraut — in addition to a fourth unidentified particular person posing with a secure and jewellery that authorities mentioned was taken shortly after the November 2024 housebreaking on the dwelling of Milwaukee Bucks participant Bobby Portis.
This photograph included in a federal criticism exhibits three suspects charged in reference to a number of burglaries.
Division of Justice
The secure — which contained a number of watches, chains, private objects, jewellery, and money — was stolen, together with a designer suitcase and designer baggage, authorities mentioned. The entire worth of property stolen was almost $1.5 million, in response to the criticism.
“Additionally of observe is that P. Zuniga Cartes is carrying a Kansas Metropolis Chiefs shirt within the photograph,” the FBI particular agent said within the criticism, noting that he believed it to be a reference to the October 2024 burglaries of the 2 Kansas Metropolis Chiefs gamers.
Along with the burglaries on the properties of Mahomes, Kelce and Portis, the FBI linked the theft group to an October 2024 housebreaking of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers participant whereas the staff was taking part in the Baltimore Ravens in Tampa, in response to the criticism. The thieves stole objects value $167,000, in response to the criticism.
The theft group was additionally linked to the December 2024 housebreaking on the dwelling of a Memphis Grizzlies participant focused in Tennessee whereas the staff was taking part in Golden State in Memphis, in response to the criticism. The burglars stole jewellery, watches and luxurious baggage valued at $1 million, in response to the criticism.
Three of the defendants additionally face state and federal expenses in Ohio in reference to the December 2024 housebreaking focusing on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
The criticism alleged that the burglars had a “clear and constant modus operandi” that started with figuring out a perfect goal primarily based on the publicly obtainable schedules and places {of professional} athletes. They’d enter by a damaged window or by utilizing a crowbar to pry open a sliding door, in response to the criticism.
As soon as inside, they’d then determine the highest-value objects, comparable to watches, jewellery and merchandise, earlier than leaving the residence, authorities mentioned. The group usually makes use of “throw telephones” for one-month durations to “thwart legislation enforcement,” the criticism said.
On-line court docket information don’t record any lawyer info for the defendants.
At the very least one housebreaking occurred in Hillsborough within the Center District of Florida, the place the criticism was filed, prosecutors mentioned. Members of the theft group rented autos in Florida that had been “later discovered within the neighborhood of burglaries dedicated nationwide of outstanding athletes,” the criticism said.
The FBI issued a proper warning late final yr to sports activities leagues about organized theft teams focusing on skilled athletes.
