Seven men charged over largest jewellery heist in U.S. history
Police in California have made several arrests and laid charges in what they are calling the largest jewellery heist in U.S. history. The 2022 crime is said to have resulted in the theft of more than US$100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and luxury watches.
Article content
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, on the evening of July 10, 2022, two men scouted a Brinks truck leaving an international jewellery show in San Mateo, Calif., with 73 bags containing millions of dollars of jewellery. Overnight, six men and other conspirators followed the truck approximately 480 kilometres from the show to rest stops in Buttonwillow and Lebec, north of Los Angeles.
Article content
At the second stop, defendants stole 24 bags from the truck containing about US$100 million in jewellery. In the following days, they all deactivated their cellphone numbers that they had been using during the heist.
Article content
Article content
Several of the men are also alleged to have stolen US$240,573 worth of Samsung electronics from an interstate cargo shipment in Ontario, Calif., four months earlier. Those same defendants then allegedly robbed a box truck driver of US$57,377 worth of Apple AirTags, with one of the robbers brandishing a knife to threaten the driver.
Article content
Next, on May 25, 2022, the defendants allegedly attempted to steal from one truck at a Fontana, Calif., rest stop using a crowbar to break in. Shortly after, they successfully stole approximately US$14,000 worth of Samsung electronics from another interstate shipment in the same city.
Article content
The accusations in the 14-page indictment have not yet been proven in court. The trial is set to start on Aug. 1. If convicted, five of the men would face statutory maximum sentences of 20 years in federal prison for each robbery charge, and all would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the theft conspiracy charge, plus 10 years in federal prison for each theft charge.
Article content
Article content
The FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Fontana Police Department, and the Ontario Police Department are continuing their investigation.
Article content
Article content
Facing charges are seven men from California: Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, 31, of Pasadena, Calif; Jazael Padilla Resto, a.k.a. 'Ricardo Noel Moya,' 'Ricardo Barbosa,' and 'Alberto Javier Loza Chamorro,' 36, of Boyle Heights and currently an inmate in Arizona state prison; Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, a.k.a. 'Walter Loza,' 41, of Rialto; Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, 60, of Los Angeles; Jorge Enrique Alban, 33, of Los Angeles; Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, 42, of Upland; and Eduardo Macias Ibarra, 36, of Los Angeles.
Article content
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Man dead after shooting in Brampton
A man is dead after a shooting in Brampton on Friday, Peel Regional Police say. The shooting happened in the area of Rutherford Road S. and Glidden Road, near Highway 410, police said in a post on X on Friday. Officers were called to the scene at about 5:45 p.m. Paramedics took the man in life-threatening condition to hospital, where he died. The suspects left in a vehicle, according to police. There is a large police presence in the area. Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation.
CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
Halifax sees spike in vehicle break-ins
A screenshot from a Halifax resident's security camera appears to capture an individual trying to open a car door on June 20, 2025. (Courtesy: John Van Gurp) Thefts from vehicles are on the rise in Halifax and police are advising the public to remove valuables and lock their cars. 'We've had 584 reported vehicle break-ins since January,' said Const. Martin Cromwell, public information officer with the Halifax Regional Police. Monthly reports of vehicle break-ins (Source: HRP) January: 141 February: 76 March: 92 April: 117 May: 158 Police say these are 'crimes of opportunity' and encourage drivers to protect themselves from theft by always locking your vehicle and making sure you don't leave valuables in plain sight in your car, like a purse, wallet, or bag. They are urging anyone who has had their car broken into to report it as soon as possible and advise anyone who may witness any suspicious activity to report it as well. That's what happened on Thursday, when Halifax police say someone spotted a man acting suspicious in an underground parking garage in the city's South End at apartment complex on Tower Road. Police were able to respond and arrest the male suspect nearby and stolen property was recovered. Residents are also being encouraged to protect themselves by adding security measures to their homes. That's what Halifax resident John Van Gurp has done. He's had his car broken into before but he's since taken measures to deter thefts from his property by installing a security camera and motion-sensor lights. Earlier this week the security Van Gurp installed captured an attempted break-in of his car late at night. He shared the video to a neighborhood Facebook page, but the would-be thief didn't get far when he discovered the door was locked. 'It happens every four or five months,' said Van Gurp, who's security camera software sends his phone a message whenever someone is detected walking up his laneway. Van Gurp wasn't overly concerned by the trespasser but wanted to share the video as a heads up. 'It doesn't hurt for people to be aware,' he said. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Ottawa Citizen
5 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Seven men charged over largest jewellery heist in U.S. history
Article content Police in California have made several arrests and laid charges in what they are calling the largest jewellery heist in U.S. history. The 2022 crime is said to have resulted in the theft of more than US$100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and luxury watches. Article content According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, on the evening of July 10, 2022, two men scouted a Brinks truck leaving an international jewellery show in San Mateo, Calif., with 73 bags containing millions of dollars of jewellery. Overnight, six men and other conspirators followed the truck approximately 480 kilometres from the show to rest stops in Buttonwillow and Lebec, north of Los Angeles. Article content Article content Article content At the second stop, defendants stole 24 bags from the truck containing about US$100 million in jewellery. In the following days, they all deactivated their cellphone numbers that they had been using during the heist. Article content Article content Several of the men are also alleged to have stolen US$240,573 worth of Samsung electronics from an interstate cargo shipment in Ontario, Calif., four months earlier. Those same defendants then allegedly robbed a box truck driver of US$57,377 worth of Apple AirTags, with one of the robbers brandishing a knife to threaten the driver. Article content Next, on May 25, 2022, the defendants allegedly attempted to steal from one truck at a Fontana, Calif., rest stop using a crowbar to break in. Shortly after, they successfully stole approximately US$14,000 worth of Samsung electronics from another interstate shipment in the same city. Article content Article content The accusations in the 14-page indictment have not yet been proven in court. The trial is set to start on Aug. 1. If convicted, five of the men would face statutory maximum sentences of 20 years in federal prison for each robbery charge, and all would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the theft conspiracy charge, plus 10 years in federal prison for each theft charge. Article content Article content The FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Fontana Police Department, and the Ontario Police Department are continuing their investigation. Article content Facing charges are seven men from California: Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, 31, of Pasadena, Calif; Jazael Padilla Resto, a.k.a. 'Ricardo Noel Moya,' 'Ricardo Barbosa,' and 'Alberto Javier Loza Chamorro,' 36, of Boyle Heights and currently an inmate in Arizona state prison; Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, a.k.a. 'Walter Loza,' 41, of Rialto; Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, 60, of Los Angeles; Jorge Enrique Alban, 33, of Los Angeles; Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, 42, of Upland; and Eduardo Macias Ibarra, 36, of Los Angeles. Article content
