NFL and NBA Stars Targeted in $2 MILLION Crime Spree—Migrant Crime Ring Busted in Florida!
A gang of migrant criminals went on a daring $2 million burglary spree, looting the homes of NFL and NBA superstars. 🌐 #News #TampaFL #Florida #Crime
TAMPA, FL – A ruthless gang of migrant criminals has been charged in Tampa, Florida over a nationwide, high-stakes burglary spree that left some of the biggest names in professional sports reeling. The seven suspects are accused of stealing more than $2 million in luxury goods from the homes of elite athletes, including Kansas City Chiefs superstars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, as well as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. The brazen criminals allegedly targeted properties while players were away, capitalizing on game schedules to pull off their high-end heists.
High-Profile Athletes Caught in the Crosshairs
The seven men—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 all charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, according to federal court documents unsealed in Tampa, Florida.
They are all Chilean nationals.
Prosecutors say they are part of a notorious “South American Theft Group” that specifically targeted NFL and NBA players, striking while their victims were on the field.
Mahomes’ mansion in Belton, Missouri, was hit just after midnight on October 6. Within hours, Kelce’s home in the Kansas City area was also burglarized.
Authorities believe the break-ins occurred while the Chiefs were preparing for a home game against the New Orleans Saints. The criminals allegedly made off with high-end watches, jewelry, and cash, exploiting the absence of the athletes to ransack their properties.
A Nationwide Crime Spree
The crime ring didn’t stop in Missouri.
Just two weeks later, on October 21, another break-in was reported—this time in Florida. A Tampa Bay Buccaneers player’s home was looted while his team was facing off against the Baltimore Ravens.
Investigators say the thieves snatched designer watches, a firearm, and a suitcase filled with valuables, adding another lucrative haul to their growing list of stolen goods.
The spree continued on November 2, when a Milwaukee Bucks player’s home was targeted during a game in Milwaukee.
Prosecutors say the criminals stole a safe filled with watches, expensive chains, jewelry, and personal belongings. The total value of stolen property from that heist alone was estimated at nearly $1.5 million.
Cincinnati Bengals Star Among Victims
The gang’s boldest move came on December 9, when they allegedly broke into Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati home while the quarterback was in Texas for a game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Prosecutors claim the thieves took around $300,000 worth of luxury possessions, including diamond-encrusted chains customized for the NFL star.
Adding to their downfall, three of the suspects—Quiroga Sanchez, Orellano Morales, and Ortega Cabello—allegedly flaunted their stolen loot on social media. Photos included Burrow’s designer luggage, watches, and wads of cash.
Surveillance footage also captured at least one suspect carrying stolen goods through a wooded area near Burrow’s home.
A Reckless Trail Leads to Their Arrest
Law enforcement finally caught up with the criminals on January 10 near Fairborn, Ohio. A routine traffic stop led to their arrest, and they were later indicted in federal court in Cincinnati. Along with burglary charges, they are also accused of falsifying records in a federal investigation.
But the crime wave didn’t end there.
Just days later, between December 19 and the early hours of December 20, another burglary took place—this time at the home of a Memphis Grizzlies player. The gang allegedly stole jewelry, watches, and luxury bags worth around $1 million while the team played in Memphis.
Facing Justice
In total, authorities estimate that the thieves made off with more than $2 million in stolen goods.
If convicted, each suspect could face up to 10 years in federal prison, marking a significant takedown of a dangerous criminal network that preyed on some of the biggest stars in professional sports.
RELATED TOPICS: Crime | Florida | Sports
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