SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – A group of men arrested for a series of high-end home burglaries might be linked to a break-in at the home of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, according to court records.
The suspects were taken into custody as part of an ongoing investigation into burglaries at multi-million-dollar homes across multiple states.
Sergio Cabello, Bastian Morales, Jordan Sanchez, and another individual were arrested on January 10 in Clark County after being pulled over by Ohio State Highway Patrol. Initially, the men used fake IDs, but authorities soon discovered their real identities. Police say all four men were either in the U.S. illegally or had overstayed their visas.
When officers searched the car, they found two Husky automatic center punch tools wrapped in a towel. Police explained that these tools are often used by a group called the South American Theft Group to break into homes. Among other items, officers also found an old LSU shirt and a Bengals hat, which they believe were stolen during a burglary on December 9, 2024, in Hamilton County, Ohio.
Location data on Sanchez’s phone placed him near the scene of the December 9 burglary. Two days later, on December 11, the phone was traced to a McDonald’s in Miami, Florida. Surveillance footage from the McDonald’s showed Morales exiting a white Volkswagen Atlas with Florida plates, the same car seen in the area of the December 9 burglary.
When questioned, the suspects offered a peculiar explanation for their Ohio trip, claiming they were on vacation to see the snow. One man admitted to buying the Husky window punch tool at Home Depot but couldn’t explain why he needed it.
The four suspects are now facing charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, participating in a criminal gang, possessing criminal tools, and obstructing official business.
The burglary at Joe Burrow’s home happened on December 9, 2024, just after 8 p.m. Olivia Ponton, a model and social media influencer, discovered a shattered bedroom window and a ransacked room. Ponton, identified in reports as an employee of Burrow’s, was staying at his home while he was away for a football game.
Ponton immediately called her mother, Diane, who then called 911. On the recorded 911 call, Diane can be heard telling the dispatcher, “Someone is trying to break into the house right now. My daughter is there. This is Joe Burrow’s house. She is staying there; he is at the football game.” Diane also shared that her daughter said someone was inside the house.
Deputies arrived quickly but found the suspects had already left. They spoke with neighbors and reviewed surveillance footage in hopes of identifying the individuals involved.
The NFL recently issued a security memo warning players about a rise in home burglaries targeting professional athletes. According to the memo, organized groups often strike when they know players are out of town for games. Just last month, homes belonging to Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were also broken into.
As for Burrow’s case, the FBI’s Cincinnati office declined to comment on whether they are involved in the investigation. For now, local law enforcement continues to piece together what happened and whether this group of suspects is responsible.
