Charges have been filed against 'South American Theft Group' members connected to the burglarization of Joe Burrow's home

The Dec. 9 burglarization of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's Cincinnati home is reaching closure.Earlier this week, seven members of a "South American Theft Group" have been charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. The seven charged: Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, Bastian Orellano Morales, Alexander Huiaguil […]

John Sheeran Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) catches his breath after taking a hit in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 11 game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers won 34-27.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) catches his breath after taking a hit in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 11 game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The Chargers won 34-27. © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Dec. 9 burglarization of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's Cincinnati home is reaching closure.

Earlier this week, seven members of a "South American Theft Group" have been charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. The seven charged: Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, Bastian Orellano Morales, Alexander Huiaguil Chavez, and Sergio Ortega Cabello are between the ages of 20 and 38 and are all of Chilean origin.

If convicted, each member of the group faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. 

The group targeted high-profile NFL and NBA athletes, like Burrow, who were away or playing in professional games at the time of the burglaries. Burrow and the Bengals were in the process of defeating the Dallas Cowboys on "Monday Night Football" at the time his residence was invaded. 

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce, along with unnamed members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Memphis Grizzlies, were also victims of separate robberies orchestrated by the group late last year. The FBI recently tracked down a fencing operation for stolen goods connected to their operations. 

Burrow himself was robbed of "designer luggage, glasses, watches, and jewelry valued at about $300,000," according to the Department of Justice's report. Similar valuables were also taken from the homes of Mahomes and Kelce on October 5 and October 7, respectively.

Several of Burrow's items were seen in released pictures of the now indicted individuals.

Half of the four-person crew that robbed Burrow's home were allegedly connected to a fencing group in New York City. The FBI tracked down dual operated of a pawnshop 43-year old Dimitriy Nezhinskiy, and 48-year old Juan Villar, and charged them for "acting as fences" for the group.