A group of Chilean citizens has been accused of a series of thefts that took millions in valuables from “high-profile athletes” throughout the U.S. — targeting the residences of Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, as well as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
The seven undocumented migrants — 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 — were charged with conspiring to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods, according to a criminal complaint that was made public in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday
Prosecutors stated that the men are believed to be part of a “South American Theft Group” that “focused on high-profile athletes in the National Football League (“NFL”) and National Basketball Association (“NBA”), all of whom were either absent or competing in professional games during the burglaries.”
Mahomes’ mansion in Belton, Mo., was burglarized shortly after midnight on Oct. 6, and Kelce’s residence was also invaded in the Kansas City region on Oct. 7, as reported by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
The group is suspected of invading the residences while the Chiefs were preparing to compete against the New Orleans Saints in Kansas City.
Prosecutors disclosed that the Chilean nationals reportedly escaped with “cash, jewelry, watches, and other high-end goods” during the burglaries in Missouri.
Two weeks later, the undocumented migrants reportedly acted again, this time in Tampa.
“While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers played in Tampa on October 21, 2024, a player’s house was broken into.” The criminal complaint stated, “Jewelry, designer timepieces, a high-end suitcase, and a gun were taken.”
A few days later, the group is believed to have burglarized the residence of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on Dec. 9 while the team was in Texas for a game against the Cowboys.
Federal prosecutors stated that the Chilean migrants stole about $300,000 in luxury items, including the NFL star’s custom diamond-encrusted chains.
Three of the names of the suspects in the charging documents — Quiroga Sanchez, Orellano Morales, and Ortega Cabello — shamelessly shared pictures with their stolen goods.
Joe Burrow’s residence in Ohio was broken into in December.
The images, presented in court filings, depicted the supposed culprits showing off Burrow’s watches, eyewear, Louis Vuitton bags, and bundles of cash.
Security cameras also recorded at least one of the individuals transporting bags through a forested section behind the house following the burglary.
The trio was ultimately captured on Jan. 10 close to Fairborn, Ohio during a routine traffic check and charged in federal court in Cincinnati earlier this month for the theft. They have additionally been accused of tampering with records in a federal inquiry.
Finally, the complaint stated that “in the late afternoon of December 19, 2024, and the early morning on December 20, 2024, a Memphis Grizzlies player’s residence in Tennessee was broken into while the team competed in Memphis, Tennessee.”
The audacious gang once more escaped with “jewelry, watches, and designer bags worth approximately $1 million.”
Overall, it is estimated that the accused thieves took more than $2 million in valuables during the series of robberies.
If convicted, the men could individually receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
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