
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — In a recent development, seven individuals from Chile have been indicted in a federal court in Florida for allegedly leading a series of burglaries targeting high-profile professional athletes across the nation, according to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI.
While the FBI complaint does not disclose the names of the athletes involved, it mentions known burglaries connected to Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, as well as athletes from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Memphis Grizzlies. Recent reports have brought attention to these incidents.
The criminal complaint indicates that the suspects are members of a burglary network known for specifically targeting well-known athletes when they are away from their residences. Allegedly, the group stole approximately $2 million in luxury watches, jewelry, cash, and other valuables, including a safe they managed to open.
All seven defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which could result in a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. As of Wednesday, it remains unclear whether the defendants are currently in custody, and federal court records in Tampa do not indicate any legal representation for them.
The accused individuals have been identified as 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. Although the FBI describes them as Chilean nationals in the case documents, their citizenship status or legality in the U.S. is not specified.
Some of the suspects were apprehended in January following a traffic stop in Ohio related to state charges for allegedly breaking into Burrow’s home. Reports indicate that four of the men were discovered to be in the U.S. illegally, according to a court affidavit filed in Clark County, Ohio.
The federal charges in Tampa were formally submitted on January 30. Much of the evidence cited in the FBI complaint is derived from cellphone records, surveillance footage, and license plate readers, which suggest that the defendants were near the locations of the burglaries. The suspects reportedly used rudimentary methods, including breaking windows and forcing open sliding glass doors with crowbars, to gain entry.
According to the FBI affidavit, the burglars would approach targeted homes from concealed areas, such as wooded or obscured landscapes, before executing their break-ins. One specific case involved a player from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who reported approximately $167,000 in stolen items, including a Rolex watch, a Louis Vuitton suitcase, jewelry, and a firearm.
One victim, Bobby Portis from the Milwaukee Bucks, expressed relief about the developments during practice, stating, “It’s good to know that some arrests have been made. When you put everything you have into your game, only to return home and find all your belongings missing — it’s comforting to see that justice is being served, especially for things you’ve worked hard to earn.”
The group reportedly took photos with some of the stolen items, which were presented as part of the FBI’s evidence. In one instance, a suspect was spotted wearing a Kansas City Chiefs shirt. The burglaries were often carried out by smaller teams operating together, with coordinated communication and engaging the same buyers for the stolen goods, according to the affidavit.
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Contributions to this report were made by AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee in Milwaukee and AP Writer John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio.
