Federal prosecutors have charged seven men in connection to a series of burglaries targeting the homes of notable professional athletes. These men, all from Chile and aged between 20 and 38, are facing charges of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. If convicted, they could each face up to 10 years in prison. The alleged burglaries involved thefts exceeding $2 million in valuables from the residences of athletes like Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Bobby Portis.
The FBI had previously issued warnings to various sports leagues last year, indicating that crime organizations were targeting athletes' homes due to their perceived possession of high-value items. These warnings materialized into reality as the string of burglaries unfolded. A federal grand jury in Cincinnati has specifically charged three of these men with the burglary of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home. Additionally, links have been made to other robberies involving Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
The investigation reveals that these individuals are part of a South American theft group known for targeting high-profile figures. Photographic evidence included in the complaint displays three of the accused posing with a safe and jewelry purportedly stolen from Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis's home. In November, Portis appealed to his social media followers for information after discovering some of his cherished possessions were missing.
The crime spree did not stop with these incidents, as unnamed players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Memphis Grizzlies were also victims of these burglaries. The coordinated efforts of this theft group underscore a broader strategy that relied on the assumption that professional athletes' homes contained items of significant value.
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