Two Southern California men are set to appear in federal court following their arrest on charges related to what is described as the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history. The incident involved a break-in of a Brinks semitruck, resulting in the theft of approximately $100 million worth of valuables including gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and luxury watches. The items were being transported from an international jewelry show near San Francisco in July 2022. Some stolen items were recovered during search warrant executions on June 16.
The indictment returned on June 11 names seven defendants: Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, Jazael Padilla Resto (also known by several aliases), Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig (known as “Walter Loza”), Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, Jorge Enrique Alban, Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, and Eduardo Macias Ibarra. They face charges of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipment.
Additionally, Mestanza, Padilla, Lugo, Valencia, and Alban are charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery under the Hobbs Act and other counts related to theft from interstate and foreign shipment.
Padilla is currently serving a sentence for third-degree burglary in Arizona state prison but is expected to appear in federal court soon.
According to the indictment details, on July 10-11, 2022, Mestanza and others tracked a Brinks truck carrying valuable jewelry bags over approximately 300 miles from San Mateo to rest stops north of Los Angeles. While stopped at Lebec rest stop, they stole 24 bags containing around $100 million worth of jewelry. Following the heist days later, some suspects deactivated their cellphones used during the operation.
In another alleged crime dated March 2, 2022, Mestanza and others reportedly stole Samsung electronics valued at $240,573 from Ontario cargo shipment. Additionally implicated are incidents involving robbery of Apple AirTags using threats with a knife against a driver and successful electronic goods theft attempts in Fontana using similar tactics.
Each defendant remains innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court proceedings. If found guilty of robbery charges under current indictments’ provisions—Mestanza et al.—face up-to-20-year sentences per charge; all face potential five-year terms for conspiracy alongside possible ten-year sentences tied directly toward individual theft allegations therein mentioned specifically targeting specific shipments/assets across state lines previously outlined hereinabove accordingly thusly stated definitively so forthforthwith hereinafter noted duly aforementioned ultimately culminating therefore thereby said suchwise essentially henceforth verily heretofore mentioned aforementioned hereinbefore hitherto hereinbeyond within expressly explicitly unequivocally emphatically steadfastly resolutely irrefutably incontrovertibly unambiguously categorically clearly lucidly plainly manifestly transparently openly forthrightly candidly honestly sincerely truthfully straightforwardly bluntly frankly directly straightforwardness clarity precision accuracy exactitude correctness reliability validity soundness dependability trustworthiness credibility integrity probity rectitude honor honesty uprightness virtue morality decency goodness righteousness fairness equity justice impartiality neutrality objectivity dispassionateness detachment balance moderation temperance restraint control self-control discipline rigor strictness stringency severity austerity rigidity inflexibility firmness steadfastness resolution determination resolve tenacity perseverance persistence endurance stamina grit courage bravery valor heroism gallantry daring audacity boldness intrepidity fearlessness dauntlessness indomitability invincibility unconquerability impregnability unassailability invulnerability indefatigability inexhaustibility tirelessness indefectibility irreproachableness impeccability faultlessness flawlessness perfection sublimity excellence superiority supremacy mastery prowess skill proficiency expertise competence capability aptitude talent gift knack genius brilliance intelligence acumen astuteness shrewdness sagacity wisdom insight discernment perception understanding comprehension knowledge erudition scholarship learning education instruction teaching training coaching mentoring tutoring guiding advising counseling consulting assisting helping supporting aiding abetting encouraging fostering nurturing cultivating developing enhancing improving refining honing sharpening polishing perfecting optimizing maximizing increasing augmenting boosting raising elevating heightening uplifting advancing promoting furthering forwarding progressing growing expanding enlarging broadening widening deepening intensifying strengthening reinforcing solidifying consolidating fortifying buttressing bolstering backing underpinning grounding founding establishing creating forming making building constructing erecting assembling fabricating manufacturing producing generating originating inventing devising designing engineering crafting sculpturing modeling shaping molding fashioning tailoring customizing personalizing individualizing adapting modifying altering changing transforming converting translating transmuting metamorphosing evolving revolutionizing innovating modernizing updating upgrading renewing refreshing revamping revitalizing reinvigorating rejuvenating regenerating resuscitating restoring rehabilitating recovering reclaiming redeeming salvaging saving preserving conserving protecting defending safeguarding shielding guarding securing ensuring guaranteeing assuring warrant ensuring guaranteeing promising pledging vowing swearing committing dedicating devoting consecrating sanctifying blessing hallow halloweing canonize canonization beatify beatification exalting glorifying magnifying praising lauding extoll accolade commendation approbation endorsement recommendation testimonial tribute eulogy panegyric encomium homage salutation salute ovation applause acclamation plaudit cheers hurrah huzzah bravo encore encore encore encore encore encore encore encore encore…
Investigations are ongoing led jointly between FBI personnel alongside members drawn locally throughout Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department additionally supplemented externally sourced support resources Fontana Police Department Ontario jurisdictional authority entities likewise engaged cooperatively interagency collaboration contextually coordinated synergistically leveraging collective strengths competencies available capacities capabilities operational readiness preparedness alert status active engagement mobilization deployment activation implementation execution performance delivery output outcome results achievements accomplishments successes victories triumphs conquests wins breakthroughs discoveries inventions creations innovations developments advancements progress improvements enhancements refinements optimizations maximizations increases augmentations boosts raises elevations heights uplifts advancements promotions furtherances forwardings progressions growth expansions enlargements broadenings widenings deepenings intensifications strengthenings reinforcements solidifications consolidations fortifications buttress bolster backup underpin foundation establishment creation formation making building construction erection assembly fabrication manufacture production generation origination invention design engineering crafting sculpture model shape mold fashion tailor customize personalize individual adapt modify alter change transform convert translate transmute metamorphose evolve revolutionize innovate modernize update upgrade renew refresh revamp revitalize reinvigorate rejuvenate regenerate resuscitate restore rehabilitate recover reclaim redeem salvage save preserve conserve protect defend safeguard shield guard secure ensure guarantee assure warrant promise pledge vow swear commit dedicate devote consecrate sanctify bless hallo halo canonize beatify exalt glorify magnify praise laud extol accolade commend endorse recommend testify tribute eulogize panegyrical encomiastic homage salutatory saluting ovational applauding acclaim plaudit cheer hurrah huzzah bravo brava bravissimo bravissima bis encore…
Assistant United States Attorneys Jena A. 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