Seven Chilean men have been charged in Florida federal court for orchestrating burglaries at the homes of prominent professional athletes. The burglaries targeted athletes such as Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow, players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Memphis Grizzlies. The men allegedly stole about $2 million in watches, jewelry, cash, and other valuables. Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a 10-year prison sentence.
Some of the defendants were arrested in Ohio in January after breaking into Joe Burrow’s home. Four of them were found to be in the country illegally or had overstayed their visas. The evidence against them includes cellphone data, surveillance video, and license plate readers that placed them at the crime scenes. The burglars used crude methods such as breaking windows or prying open sliding glass doors.
One victim, Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks, expressed relief that arrests had been made but mentioned the emotional impact of having personal belongings stolen. The group was known to take photos with their loot, and often worked in smaller units to commit multiple burglaries.
The FBI affidavit states that these burglary groups communicate with each other and share the same buyers for stolen merchandise. The charges were filed on January 30th, and it was not clear if the defendants were in custody or had legal representation. The FBI has not disclosed whether the men are U.S. citizens or in the country legally.
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