Seven Chilean nationals are alleged to have participated as part of a "South American Theft Group" charged under a series of burglaries targeting the homes of NFL and NBA athletes, including Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. On Feb. 18, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced charges against the group for theft of over $2 million in valuables.
The Alleged Theft Ring
Sergio Ortega Cabello, 38; Bastian Jimenez Freraut, 27; Pablo Zuniga Cartes, 24; Alexander Huiaguil Chavez, 24; Bastian Orellano Morales, 23; Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, 22; and Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, 20-were all ordered charged. Seven made the conspiracy charges with intent to commit interstate transportation of stolen property.
The criminal complaint further states that often high-profile athletes' homes were targeted on account of the victims being away playing a professional game. The division of labor became very sophisticated in that members assisted in vehicle rentals for these crimes, rented short-stay accommodations, made arrangements to obtain false identification, then contacted partners for the sale of stolen goods.
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce Targeted
The homes of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were burgled almost within 48 hours in October 2024. The burglary of Mahomes' estate-an eight-acre property-in Belton, Missouri, was allegedly sustained around midnight, Saturday, October 5. The Cass County Sheriff's Office report referred that there seemed to be no forced entry.
Less than 48 hours after the Chiefs played against the New Orleans Saints, Kelce's 17,000-square-foot house-Masters Hall-in Leawood, Kansas, was burglarized. The Leawood Police received an early morning call to find that property valued at $20,000 had been stolen along with a smashed rear door.
The U.S. Attorney's Office claims the thieves stole jewelry, watches, cash, and other luxury merchandise from both Chiefs players. Additionally, authorities released an image of the suspects in a group photograph posing with the stolen items.
Other Victims and Goods Stolen
The complaint shows that the theft ring went after other athletes. An out-of-home game in October 2024 was considered a time when a player from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had his house in his home city burglarized. The gang took jewelry, designer watches, expensive suitcase, and a firearm.
The Wisconsin home of a Milwaukee Bucks player was burglarized in November 2024, with the group stealing several watches, chains, personal items, jewelry, and cash, in addition to designer bags worth about $1.484 million.
In December 2024, a Cincinnati Bengals player was targeted, along with the Memphis Grizzlies player. The thieves are alleged to have exited the Cincinnati case with $300,000 worth of goods and approximately $1 million out of Memphis.
Investigation and Evidence
The FBI exposed activities of the group utilizing search warrants, subpoenaed information, and other methods. The U.S. Attorney's office stressed that the theft ring had been really systematic; planning that included selecting days for commission heavily relied on online calendars to know when athletes were away from homes.
An Increasing Trend of High-Profile Thefts
This case is a sample of the increasing trend of organized robbery groups targeting wealthy athletes and celebrities. The arrest of seven Chilean Nationals just begins to tackle the problem, but there are likely many such groups still actively looting.
As the legal processes begin, the victims, including Mahomes and Kelce, will have time to regroup from the invasions of their private space. Therefore, the emerging case reiterates the vulnerabilities high-profile individuals are under and would further reaffirm the need for enhanced security.
What's Next?
Allegedly, the suspects will stand trial in a matter of months. If convicted, they will incur lengthy terms of imprisonment for their conduct associated with the 2 million robbery. In the meantime, agencies involved have their sleeves rolled up, researching other branches of theft related to him so as to put a stop to crime potentially aspiring against athletes and other public personalities.