Four Chilean men were arrested in Ohio in connection with a series of burglaries at multimillion-dollar homes, including that of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. The men were indicted on state charges related to engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and participating in a criminal gang. This was part of a larger federal investigation into burglaries by South American crime groups at high-end homes across the country, with several involving well-known professional athletes. In total, six different South American burglary groups, five of which were Chilean nationals, have been arrested.
The four men were stopped in Harmony Township after a traffic violation, and it was found that all of them were either in the United States illegally or had overstayed their permissions. The authorities discovered a Louisiana State University shirt and a Bengals hat in the vehicle, along with burglary tools used by the “South American Theft Group.” Investigators used the men’s phone data and surveillance footage to link them to a burglary in the Cincinnati area on the same day that Mr. Burrow’s home was broken into while he was away playing a game in Dallas.
The F.B.I. has issued warnings to professional sports leagues after several athletes had items worth hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen from their homes by international organized theft groups, mostly from South America. Some of the targeted athletes included members of the Kansas City Chiefs and the N.B.A. players Bobby Portis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mike Conley Jr. The thieves typically strike when the athletes are away for games, targeting high-end goods such as designer handbags and jewelry.
In addition to the Ohio arrests, investigators across the country have arrested multiple South American burglary groups, highlighting a significant issue of organized crime targeting high-value homes of celebrities and professional athletes. The arrested Chilean nationals were found in possession of items linked to the burglary of Joe Burrow’s home, leading to further investigations into their involvement in the crimes. The use of phone data and surveillance footage played a crucial role in identifying the suspects in these cases.
The men involved in the Ohio burglaries faced state charges including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and participating in a criminal gang. These charges were part of a wider federal investigation into burglaries by South American crime groups at multimillion-dollar homes across the country. The use of fake identification and burglary tools linked to an international criminal gang known as the “South American Theft Group” raised concerns about the sophistication and organization of these criminal operations.
The F.B.I. has been working with professional sports leagues to address the issue of international organized theft groups targeting the homes of athletes. The thefts, which took place while the athletes were away for games, involved high-value goods such as designer handbags and jewelry. The warning issued to sports leagues highlighted the vulnerability of high-profile individuals to organized crime, emphasizing the need for heightened security measures to protect their homes and possessions.
