Four Chilean men have been arrested in connection with a string of burglaries at multimillion-dollar homes, including those of professional athletes, in Ohio. The four suspects, Jordan Francisco Sanchez, Alexander Esteban Huaiquil-Chavez, Bastian Alejandro Morales, and Sergio Andres Cabello, were stopped by authorities on January 10 after a traffic violation. A search of their vehicle revealed burglary tools linked to the “South American Theft Group,” an international gang described by the FBI.
The men, who are all either in the US illegally or overstayed their visas, face state charges including engaging in corrupt activity and participating in a criminal gang. The arrest is part of a larger federal investigation into burglaries by South American crime groups across the country. At least six different gangs have been identified, with five being Chilean nationals.
The Ohio case is linked to another burglary at the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, which occurred on December 9 while he was away playing in Dallas. The FBI has issued warnings to sports leagues about these international organized theft groups, which target high-end goods and break into homes when athletes are away.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/us/joe-burrow-ohio-burglary-arrests.html