Federal prosecutors in Tampa have charged seven individuals from Chile in connection with a series of burglaries targeting the homes of professional athletes, including Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. The accused individuals are alleged members of a South American theft group that systematically burglarized the homes of NFL and NBA players while they were away for games. According to the complaint, the group stole valuables worth over $2 million.
The individuals charged include Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, Bastian Orellano Morales, Alexander Huiaguil Chavez, and Sergio Ortega Cabello. Each of them faces charges of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted.
Authorities provided evidence, including a photograph of three of the suspects, Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, and Bastian Jimenez Freraut, posing with stolen valuables after burglarizing Milwaukee Bucks player Bobby Portis’ home in November 2024. The stolen items included a safe containing watches, chains, jewelry, cash, and designer bags, with a total estimated value of nearly $1.5 million. Notably, one of the suspects in the photo was wearing a Kansas City Chiefs shirt, which investigators believe references the October 2024 burglaries of Mahomes and Kelce.
The theft group has also been linked to an October 2024 burglary at the home of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player while the team was playing against the Baltimore Ravens in Tampa. The value of stolen items from that incident was estimated at $167,000. Additionally, the group is accused of a December 2024 burglary at the home of a Memphis Grizzlies player while the team played against Golden State. Authorities reported that the stolen items, including jewelry, watches, and luxury bags, were valued at approximately $1 million.
Three of the defendants are also facing charges in Ohio related to the December 2024 burglary of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s home. The complaint outlines the group’s method of operation, which involved selecting targets based on publicly available schedules, breaking into homes through windows or prying open sliding doors, and stealing high-value items. The suspects allegedly used temporary “throw phones” to evade law enforcement detection.
