Seven charged for largest jewelry heist in U.S. history

The Department of Justice on Tuesday said it had charged seven California residents for allegedly stealing $100 million in jewelry in 2022. The men allegedly followed a semitruck from an international jewelry show near San Francisco and, at a rest stop, robbed it of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and luxury watches. The heist was the largest in American history, according to the Justice Department.

Authorities recovered some of the jewelry while executing search warrants on Monday, according to the Justice Department. The FBI, California law enforcement, and the Ontario, Canada police department are investigating. Two of the suspects were scheduled to appear in federal court later on Tuesday.

Who are the suspects, and what charges do they face?

The suspects, all from California, are:

• Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, 31, of Pasadena

• Jazael Padilla Resto, 36, of Boyle Heights, currently incarcerated in Arizona

• Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, 41, of Rialto

• Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, 60, of Los Angeles

• Jorge Enrique Alban, 33, of Los Angeles

• Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, 42, of Upland

• Eduardo Macias Ibarra, 36, of Los Angeles

Each of the men was charged with conspiring to conduct theft from an interstate or foreign shipment in addition to carrying out the theft. Mestanza, Padilla, Lugo, Valencia, and Alban face additional charges such as interfering with commerce by robbery, the Justice Department said.

What penalties do they face if convicted? All of the alleged thieves face up to five years in federal prison for the theft conspiracy charge and up to 10 years for each theft charge. Those additionally charged with robbery would also face statutory maximum sentences of 20 years in prison for each robbery charge if convicted, according to the Justice Department.