OHIO — A federal grand jury has indicted three Chilean nationals accused of burglarizing a local NFL player’s home and transporting stolen goods across state lines.
The men are believed to be part of a South American Theft Group, a network law enforcement says has been targeting homes in the region.
Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23, and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38, were charged with interstate transportation of stolen property and falsifying records in a federal investigation.
A federal complaint was filed on Feb. 3, and the indictment was returned today.
“Our investigation remains ongoing as these individuals seem to be the alleged tip of the iceberg of South American Theft Groups committing crimes throughout our district and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker.
“We owe it to the victims, whether they are or are not professional athletes, to follow the evidence into these alleged criminal networks and hold the law-breakers accountable.”
The burglary occurred on Dec. 9, 2024, while the NFL player was in Dallas for a game.
Law enforcement responded to his Cincinnati home around 8:14 p.m. after an associate discovered rooms in disarray and a broken bedroom window.
Security personnel had checked the home at 6 p.m. and found no damage, suggesting the burglary took place between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Investigators found a trail camera image of a man carrying luggage in a wooded area behind the home.
Authorities tracked the suspects across multiple states, locating them at a La Quinta hotel in Fairborn, Ohio.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol later stopped their vehicle for a traffic violation.
During the stop, Cabello allegedly deleted photos of the stolen items and the back of the victim’s home from his phone, leading to the falsification charge.
Further analysis of the suspects’ phones revealed images of them in southeast Florida days after the burglary, posing with luxury luggage and stolen jewelry.
Officers also found burglary tools, an LSU shirt, and a Cincinnati Bengals hat—items believed to have been taken from the victim’s home—inside their vehicle.
The suspects were taken into custody at the time of the traffic stop.
Interstate transportation of stolen property carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, while falsification of records in a federal investigation is punishable by up to 20 years.
The three men also face state charges that remain pending.
Federal officials, including the FBI, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and multiple law enforcement agencies, collaborated on the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Springer is prosecuting the case.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
