Seven individuals have been charged in relation to a nationwide burglary spree targeting high-profile athletes, including Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, federal officials announced on Tuesday.
The charges, stemming from a criminal complaint filed on January 30, involve conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines.
The defendants, all from Chile, include Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, 22; Bastian Orellano Morales, 23; Sergio Ortega Cabello, 38; Pablo Zuniga Cartes, 24; Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, 20; Alexander Huiaguil Chavez, 24; and Bastian Jimenez Freraut, 27. It’s unclear whether the defendants have legal representation. Four of them have pleaded not guilty to charges in Ohio related to criminal activities, including gang participation and possession of criminal tools.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida alleges that the group is part of a South American crew responsible for burglaries that resulted in the theft of approximately $2 million worth of goods. These crimes include burglaries at the homes of Kansas City Chiefs players Kelce and Mahomes, as well as incidents at the homes of other athletes such as Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis Jr. and Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office further states that the group is also responsible for a break-in at the home of a Memphis Grizzlies player in December and a burglary at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player’s residence in October. In all cases, the athletes were away at games during the burglaries.
Federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the NFL, NBA, and FBI, have warned athletes about a rising trend of burglaries targeting wealthy individuals, especially those in the sports world. South American criminal crews are believed to be behind the series of break-ins, and authorities have raised concerns about a loophole in the ESTA Visa Waiver program allowing easy access to criminals.
