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Tampa, FL – Seven alleged members of a South American theft ring have been charged by federal prosecutors in Tampa. The group is accused of targeting the homes of professional athletes, including Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
The indictment alleges the group stole over $2 million in valuables from athletes’ homes across the country. They reportedly focused on NFL and NBA players, striking while the athletes were away at games or traveling.
The seven defendants, all Chilean nationals, are charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. Each faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The defendants are Pablo Zuniga Cartes, 24, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, 20, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, 27, Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastian Orellano Morales, 23, Alexander Huiaguil Chavez, 24, and Sergio Ortega Cabello, 38.
A photo included in the complaint shows three of the defendants posing with a safe and jewelry. Authorities believe these items were stolen from Milwaukee Bucks player Bobby Portis’s home in November 2024.
The stolen goods, which included watches, jewelry, and cash, were valued at nearly $1.5 million. One of the suspects is wearing a Kansas City Chiefs shirt in the photo, possibly referencing the October 2024 burglaries at Mahomes’s and Kelce’s homes.
Other alleged victims include a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player and a Memphis Grizzlies player. Three of the defendants also face charges in Ohio related to a burglary at the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
The complaint outlines the group’s alleged method: using public schedules to track athletes, forcing entry into homes, and stealing high-value items like watches and jewelry. They also reportedly used disposable phones to avoid detection.
The complaint was filed in the Middle District of Florida, where at least one burglary and vehicle rental connected to the crimes occurred. The FBI previously warned sports leagues about organized theft groups targeting athletes.