A group of seven Chilean nationals has been charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property after allegedly burglarizing the properties of multiple National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA) athletes, including the Tennessee home of a player on the Memphis Grizzlies.
On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announced that the seven defendants – Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, Bastian Orellano Morales, Alexander Huiaguil Chavez, and Sergio Ortega Cabello – were charged in a criminal complaint for being members of a South American Theft Group that burglarized the homes of professional athletes around the U.S.
The defendants, all from Chile ranging in ages 20-38, are accused of targeting the properties of professional athletes – all of whom were away or playing in professional games at the times of the burglaries – and stole valuables worth over $2 million, according to the complaint.
The defendants are accused of burglarizing the homes of two Kansas City Chiefs football players, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player, a Milwaukee Bucks player, a Cincinnati Bengals player, and a Memphis Grizzlies player between October and December 2024.
In Tennessee, the defendants are accused of burglarizing the home of the Memphis Grizzlies player and stealing jewelry, watches, and luxury bags valued at about $1,000,000 on the night of December 19, 2024, while the team was playing the Golden State Warriors at the FedExForum in Memphis.
“In many circumstances, professional sports teams will publicize their schedules and locations of their games, making it easy for the [South American Theft Group] to know when a particular athlete on a particular professional sport team will be away from his residence,” the complaint explains.
The complaint adds that the theft group approached the athletes’ residences from cover, such as a wooded or dark area, before breaking into the homes by breaking a window or using a crowbar to open a sliding door and proceeding to steal jewelry, expensive watches, U.S. currency, and other expensive merchandise.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office notes that if convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
