Latest news with #SouthAmericanTheftGroups
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Yahoo
FBI investigating South American Theft Groups in the United States
Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Professional athletes and others are among high-profile U.S. citizens who have been targeted by what the FBI is calling South American Theft Groups. FBI field offices across the nation and in South America are targeting SATGs whose members are foreign nationals of South American descent and enter the United States illegally or overstay their visas to commit crimes, the FBI says in an online video titled, "Intercepting South American Theft Groups." Those crimes include a "recent trend of break-ins at the homes of professional athletes while they are away at games" and are targeted by the theft groups, the FBI says. "These informal but sophisticated organizations have burglarized jewelry stores and robbed salespeople," according to the FBI video. "These groups aim to illegally sell their ill-gotten property or send it overseas with their profits - and the resulting black-market demand for stolen goods - fueling the cycle of violent crime." The FBI says the criminal groups commonly use rental vehicles, fake IDs and documents, multiple burner phones and encrypted messaging apps to communicate, plan and carry out their crimes. Professional athletes often are targeted Those crimes have targeted several professional athletes while they are playing games - often that involve travel to distant locations. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow are among the many professional athletes who were targeted by alleged SATGs in recent months. Other professional athletes recently burglarized include Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. and Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis. The problem has become so pervasive that the NFL and NBA have warned their respective athletes against criminal acts by SATGs. "These SATGs are reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones and signal-jamming devices," NBA Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer Leon Newsome said in a recent memo to players. Burglarized homes typically were unoccupied and had no dogs present when crimes occurred, according to the FBI. A federal grand jury in Cincinnati on Wednesday indicted three Chilean nationals for a Dec. 9 burglary at Burrow's home in Cincinnati. Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez, 22; Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23; and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38, are Chile citizens and charged with interstate transportation of stolen goods and falsification of records in federal court. Each faces up to 30 years in federal prison but is innocent until proven guilty. The three men also are charged with state-level crimes for allegedly breaking into Burrow's Cincinnati home while he was leading the Bengals to a 27-20 win over the host Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 9. Keanu Reeves' Rolex recovered in Chile Actor Keanu Reeves also was victimized by a burglary while he was away, and some of the goods stolen from his home recently were discovered in Chile. Police in Santiago, Chile, in December announced the recovery of three luxury watches belonging to Reeves that likely were stolen from his Los Angeles home in late 2023, CNN reported. One of the watches is a Rolex Submariner valued at $9,000 and engraved with Reeves' first name and "2021, JW4, thank you, The John Wick Five." Reeves in 2021 gave Rolex Submariner watches to stuntmen who participated in the filming of "John Wick: Chapter 4." Local police recovered the watch during a police investigation into a series of local robberies in Chile's capital city.
Reuters
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
FBI launches crackdown on burglary ring targeting US athletes' homes
Feb 7 (Reuters) - The FBI said on Friday that it has launched a nationwide operation to investigate a burglary ring that has targeted the homes of professional athletes in the United States. According to an FBI statement, the burglaries have been orchestrated by members of South American Theft Groups (SATGs). "The investigations began after a series of home burglaries in which SATG suspects allegedly monitored professional athletes travel schedules to identify when their properties would be unoccupied," the FBI said. "The FBI believes athletes may have been targeted due to their publicly available schedules, making their properties more vulnerable." The agency said it has arrested two men accused of running an East Coast operation to resell stolen goods, and that a federal grand jury in Cincinnati indicted three defendants believed to be operating as part of the group. The three defendants, who were charged with transporting stolen goods interstate and falsifying records in a federal investigation, allegedly committed a burglary at the home of an NFL player last year, the FBI said. The announcement of the crackdown came two days ahead of the NFL Super Bowl, when the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, are due to play the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Yahoo
Men suspected in Joe Burrow's home break-in caught with ‘JB9′ chain, FBI reveals
A federal grand jury in Cincinnati has formally charged three Chilean men who allegedly burglarized the home of a local NFL player on Dec. 9, 2024, according to the office of Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney of the Southern District of Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Jordan Sanchez, 22, Bastian Morales, 23, and Sergio Cabello, 38, were indicted on interstate transportation of stolen property and falsification of records in a federal investigation charges on Feb. 3 in US District Court. TRENDING STORIES: Stolen vehicle hits cruiser, leads officers on chase before fiery crash 1 killed, 5 injured in Ohio warehouse shooting; suspect arrested Freezing rain, accumulating ice expected Wednesday into Thursday As previously reported by News Center 7, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's house was burglarized on Dec. 9, 2024, while he was in Dallas playing the Cowboys. The three men are believed to be part of a South American Theft Group transporting stolen goods interstate and falsifying records in a federal investigation, according to the office. 'Our investigation remains ongoing as these individuals seem to be the alleged tip of the iceberg of South American Theft Groups committing crimes throughout our district and elsewhere,' Parker said. 'We owe it to the victims, whether they are or are not professional athletes, to follow the evidence into these alleged criminal networks and hold the law-breakers accountable. I cannot thank our law enforcement partners enough for their commitment to working together to track down these perpetrators. Today is a day that law enforcement scored and spiked the ball.' According to court documents, authorities were called to the NFL player's house around 8:14 p.m. on Dec. 9 on reports of a burglary. An associate of the homeowner was dropped off at the house just before 8 p.m. and found that the rooms were 'unusually messy' and a primary bedroom window had been broken. Authorities believe that the burglary occurred between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., according to the office. At approximately 6 p.m. the security detail at the house had a shift change. The security personnel walked around the house, but no windows appeared to be broken at the time. Investigators discovered a trail camera image of a man carrying a luggage and walking through the wooded area behind the home, the office said. Authorities tracked the men in various states after the burglary but found the vehicle at the La Quinta hotel on University Boulevard in Fairborn. As previously reported by News Center 7, the Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped the car on I-70 in Clark County for a traffic violation. According to the office, a phone analysis found that Cabello reportedly deleted photos of the stolen items and the back of the victim's house during the traffic stop with OSHP, ultimately falsifying records in a federal investigation. 'Additional cell phone analysis revealed other photos of the defendants in southeast Florida days after the burglary with luxury luggage and wearing the stolen jewelry,' the office said. >> PHOTOS: Items believed to be taken on same day as Joe Burrow home break-in A photo released by FBI Cincinnati shows one of the men wearing a 'JB9″ chain and several designer bags. The office said troopers located punch tools to break glass, an old Louisiana State University shirt, and a Cincinnati Bengals hat believed to be stolen from the victim's house. OSHP body camera footage obtained by News Center 7 shows troopers searching the vehicle and finding the sports memorabilia. The men were arrested at the time of the traffic stop. Interstate transportation of stolen property is punishable by up to 10 years and falsification of records in a federal investigation carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, according to the office. The local and state charges the men are facing are still pending. 'South American Theft Groups have been a major concern in the Cincinnati area,' said FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. 'We appreciate the partnerships of all the agencies involved in the Southwest Ohio South American Theft Group Task Force for their hard work on this investigation.' News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Yahoo
2 men charged in NYC with running a fencing operation for South American theft groups targeting pro athletes
Two men who federal authorities say 'incentivized' South American theft groups targeting the homes of U.S. professional athletes were arrested in New York City on Tuesday following an FBI raid on a pawn shop in Manhattan's Diamond District. The men, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy, 43, and Juan Villar, 48, were charged with conspiracy to receive stolen property as part of an alleged 'fencing' operation. They are due to appear in federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday. As defined by the Department of Justice, those involved in fencing operations buy stolen goods 'knowing some or all of them may be illicit,' then resell them, thereby creating a 'fence' around the stolen merchandise. In a statement announcing the charges, United States Attorney John Durham said the men allegedly "created an illicit market and fueled demand for burglaries by South American Theft Groups and other crews around the country by purchasing stolen watches, jewelry and other luxury items, and then re-selling them in their New York City store." According to the indictment unsealed Tuesday, between 2020 and 2025 the defendants conspired to 'receive and purchase stolen property, including jewelry, watches, handbags and assorted luxury items that had been stolen outside of the state of New York and transported into New York.' Prosecutors say Nezhinskiy and Villar 'regularly served as 'fences' for burglary crews based out of South America who traveled around the United States committing burglaries, typically targeting wealthier neighborhoods or jewelry vendors, and stealing luxury accessories.' Prosecutors say evidence — including phone records and surveillance footage — links Nezhinskiy to at least two members of a four-man burglary crew believed to be involved in the 'Dec. 9, 2024, burglary of a high-profile athlete in Ohio.' Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home in Anderson Township, Ohio, was burglarized on that date. According to investigators, Nezhinskiy was in contact with that crew less than one week before the Dec. 9 burglary, the records show. The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York said that law enforcement executed search warrants Tuesday at Nezhinskiy and Villar's business in Midtown as well as storage units belonging to Nezhinskiy in New Jersey, seizing large quantities of suspected stolen property, including dozens of high-end watches, handbags, jewelry, wine, sports memorabilia, artwork and 'power tools consistent with those commonly used in burglaries and opening safes.' Nezhinskiy and Villar each face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. In late December, the FBI issued a report warning professional sports leagues in the United States that 'organized theft groups' from South America were behind the string of burglaries at the homes of star athletes. 'These homes are targeted for burglary due to the perception they may have high-end goods like designer handbags, jewelry, watches, and cash,' the FBI said. The break-ins were preplanned and appear designed to take place when the athletes were not home, according to the FBI. In November, the NBA and the NFL issued memos to players and coaches warning that the theft groups appear to be taking advantage of the timing of the star athletes' schedules, targeting their homes on game days. Here is a partial list of burglaries that have taken place at the homes of sports stars since September: Sept. 15: NBA guard Mike Conley Jr. of the Minnesota Timberwolves had his home broken into while he was attending a Minnesota Vikings game, and jewelry was stolen. Sept 16: The Minnesota home of NBA forward Karl Anthony Towns was burglarized, with thieves getting away with property worth more than $100,000. Oct. 6: Local police were called to the home of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after a break-in was reported by a member of his security team the night before an Oct. 7 home game. 'It's disappointing. I can't get into too many details because the investigation is still ongoing,' Mahomes said during a Nov. 13 press conference. Oct. 7: A thief broke into Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce's home while he was playing against the New Orleans Saints. Police had confirmed that $20,000 in cash was stolen but did not previously disclose a stolen watch that has now been recovered in Providence, R.I. Nov. 2: The home of Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis was broken into while he was playing a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has offered a $40,000 reward for information that leads to the return of his belongings after he put out a plea on social media saying that thieves took 'most of my prized possessions.' Nov. 29: Dallas Stars hockey player Tyler Seguin reported that $500,000 in watches were stolen from his home while he was playing a home game at American Airlines Arena. No one was home at the time of the robbery, though video of the crime was captured by security cameras. Dec. 9: The Ohio home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was broken into while Burrows was in Texas playing a game against the Dallas Cowboys. Dec. 23: Thieves targeted then-Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic's home in North Dallas, making off with $30,000 in jewelry.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Yahoo
Arrest made in New York potentially relates to fencing of items stolen from Joe Burrow
A Tuesday arrest in New York's Diamond District could be linked to the December burglary of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home. NBC News reports that investigators contend the business worked with a group that has been targeting homes across the country, with the Burrow theft specifically mentioned. Two men, Dimitriy Nezhinskiy and Juan Villar, were arrested under a felony indictment for conspiracy to receive stolen property and receiving stolen property, according to the criminal complaint. Per the report, investigators are exploring whether the men have ties to the group that recently was arrested in connection with the Burrow burglary. The authorities claim that Nezhinskiy and Villar have been linked by evidence including phone contacts between Nezhinskiy and two of four Chilean nationals who were arrested last month. "Nezhinskiy and Villar regularly served as 'fences' for burglary crews based out of South America who traveled around the United States committing burglaries, typically targeting wealthier neighborhoods or jewelry vendors, and stealing luxury accessories," the U.S. attorney's office said in a statement. "Nezhinskiy and Villar's operation provided an essential market for the stolen goods." "The defendants created an illicit market and fueled demand for burglaries by South American Theft Groups and other crews around the country by purchasing stolen watches, jewelry and other luxury items, and then re-selling them in their New York City store,' U.S. attorney John J. Durham added. Having a way to sell stolen goods is a key piece of the operation. Stealing the items is the first step. Turning them into cash is the second. Searches conducted in New York and New Jersey yielded "large quantities of suspected stolen property," including high-end watches and handbags, wine, sports memorabilia, jewelry, artwork and burglary tools.
