Additional Coverage:
- $100M in diamonds, Rolex watches, emeralds stolen in ‘largest jewelry heist in US history’ (usatoday.com)
Lebec, CA – In a twist worthy of a Hollywood heist movie, federal authorities announced charges against seven men in connection with the brazen theft of over $100 million in jewelry from a Brinks truck. The July 2022 robbery, dubbed the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history, stunned the nation with its audacity and scale.
The meticulously planned operation unfolded after the crew surveilled an international jewelry show in San Mateo, south of San Francisco. They tracked the Brinks truck carrying the precious cargo for a staggering 300 miles, finally striking at a gas station in Lebec, California, while the driver and guard were inside. With lookouts strategically positioned, the thieves swiftly pilfered 24 bags brimming with Rolex watches, diamond earrings, emerald rings, gold necklaces, and even a lavender jade stone the size of a cicada, leaving behind millions more in the remaining bags.
The crew vanished into thin air after the heist, deactivating their cell phones in an attempt to erase their tracks. For nearly a year, the crime remained unsolved, baffling authorities.
But the thieves’ luck ran out on June 17th of this year when federal indictments were unsealed, detailing charges against the seven men. The indictments also revealed a string of cargo truck robberies dating back to March 2022, including thefts of Samsung electronics and Apple AirTags. In one instance, a driver was threatened with a knife, though thankfully left unharmed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jena MacCabe, prosecuting the case, described the group as “professional, organized, and prepared,” highlighting their well-rehearsed system for executing the thefts. While tight-lipped about the specifics of the investigation, MacCabe credited cell phone data and surveillance footage as pivotal in cracking the case.
Although authorities have recovered some of the stolen jewelry, the majority remains missing. The whereabouts of the loot and how the thieves planned to spend their ill-gotten gains remains a mystery. MacCabe stated there’s no evidence of lavish spending thus far.
The seven men, ranging in age from 31 to 60 and residing throughout Southern California, face charges including conspiracy to commit theft and interference with commerce by robbery. Some of the accused face up to 20 years in prison, while others could receive up to 15-year sentences. The investigation continues as authorities strive to recover the remaining jewelry and piece together the full scope of the operation.