{"id":2448918,"date":"2025-06-18T13:29:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T17:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/seven-californians-indicted-in-largest-jewelry-heist-in-us-history\/"},"modified":"2025-06-18T13:32:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T17:32:08","slug":"seven-californians-indicted-in-largest-jewelry-heist-in-us-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/seven-californians-indicted-in-largest-jewelry-heist-in-us-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven Californians indicted in largest jewelry heist in US history"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fseven-californians-indicted-in-largest-jewelry-heist-in-us-history%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2448918&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Seven individuals from the los Angeles area have been indicted for their alleged involvement in the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >largest jewelry heist<\/a> in U.S. history, were 24 bags containing approximately $100 million worth of valuables were stolen from a Brink&#8217;s armored truck on July 11, 2022. The group targeted the truck after it was loaded with precious items from a gem and jewelry show near San Francisco. During a stop for food, the truck&#8217;s driver left it momentarily unattended, allowing the suspects to make off with the haul.<\/p>\n<p>The heist involved high-value items, including rare diamonds and luxury watches, and has drawn comparisons to international robberies like the 1983 brink&#8217;s-Mat heist and the 2003 Antwerp diamond theft. The indicted individuals face serious charges and possible <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/olympic-diver-tom-daley-nations-that-punish-being-gay-with-death-should-be-barred-from-olympics\/\" title=\"Olympic Diver Tom Daley: Nations That \u2018Punish Being Gay With Death\u2019 Should Be Barred From Olympics\">lengthy prison sentences<\/a> if convicted.Some of the stolen items have been recovered, but many remain missing. The case is significant not only for the scale of the crime but also for the long wait the victims endured for justice, with concerns over insurance claims and livelihoods lost due to the theft.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Seven Californians indicted in largest jewelry heist in US history<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2146919\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-courts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Federal prosecutors\">Federal prosecutors<\/a> on Tuesday announced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-cdca\/pr\/two-southern-california-men-arrested-charges-alleging-they-committed-largest-jewelry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"the indictment\">the indictment<\/a> of seven people believed to be behind the largest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/crime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Federal prosecutors\">jewel heist<\/a> in U.S.&nbsp;history.<\/p>\n<p>Officials charged seven men with the theft of 24 bags containing $100 million worth of gold, diamonds, gems,&nbsp;luxury watches, and other items from a Brink&rsquo;s armored truck driving through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"California\">California<\/a> on July 11,&nbsp;2022.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3444699\/timeline-increasing-incidents-political-violence-in-the-us\/\">Political violence on the rise in the US: A timeline of key incidents<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3445435\/florida-attorney-general-james-uthmeier-civil-contempt-immigration-law\/\">Judge holds Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in contempt over immigration law guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3444804\/la-riots-charges-protesters-arson-assault-nathan-hochman\/\">California officials charge LA anti-ICE rioters over protest violence<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Ranging in age from 31 to 60, the men were all Los Angeles-area residents, living in Boyle Heights, Westlake, and Rampart Village, California.<\/p>\n<p>The Hollywood-style robbery, which Justice Department officials said was the biggest jewelry grab they had ever seen, started when the goods were loaded onto a Brink&rsquo;s truck following a gem and jewelry show south of San Francisco.<\/p>\n<p>The shows featured everything from decorative beads to rare Rolex watches. On the truck was millions of dollars&rsquo; worth of jewelry Jean Malki, a veteran jeweler with four decades under his belt,&nbsp;had wrapped, including a necklace containing 25 carats of yellow diamonds, a rare Australian-mined black opal, and a Burmese ruby, he <a href=\"https:\/\/nymag.com\/intelligencer\/2023\/05\/the-ugly-fight-over-the-brinks-robbery-in-california.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"told\">told<\/a> <em>New York<\/em> magazine at the time.<\/p>\n<p>Malki and a handful of other&nbsp;jewelers handed their entire collection to a Brink&rsquo;s guard, who packed it into his truck and told them they would get it the next day at a show about five hours south in Pasadena, California.<\/p>\n<p>That day never came.<\/p>\n<p>Around 2 a.m., at a truck stop near the Los Angeles County line, the guard driving the Brink&rsquo;s truck went inside to get something to eat. His co-pilot was asleep in a berth in the cab. When the driver returned less than half an hour later, he saw that 24 bags containing precious gems such as the ones Malki and 14 others had packed were gone.<\/p>\n<p>According to the indictment, the men took the loot and headed for East Hollywood.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the defendants allegedly did not grasp how large their haul was. In the days after the robbery, several of the co-conspirators deactivated their cellphones. The court filing did not say how the men gained access to the trailer.<\/p>\n<p>The Brink&rsquo;s driver told deputies at the time that he was &ldquo;pretty sure we were followed from the show where we got loaded.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>For months, the jewelers waited for law enforcement to announce arrests or leads in the case.<br \/>Nothing happened.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the jewelers lost their entire livelihoods. Others were locked in a legal battle with Richmond, Virginia-based Brink&rsquo;s that prevented them from receiving any insurance payouts.<\/p>\n<p>Almost three years later, federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment against seven co-conspirators who allegedly carried out the theft at the Flying J Travel Center, about 70 miles north of Los Angeles. <\/p>\n<p>The men were each charged with conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipments and theft from interstate and foreign shipments.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It was a long time coming, and there were times when the victims and members of the team wondered whether we&rsquo;d see this success,&rdquo; Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Butler said Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the stolen jewelry, including watches, was recovered after search warrants were executed. Authorities also recovered a large amount of cash. Butler said search warrants are still being pursued and that many of the stolen jewels remain missing.<\/p>\n<p>Two of the defendants arrested appeared&nbsp;in federal court on Tuesday. Another is an inmate at an Arizona prison, according to a press release from the U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/confirmed-the-number-of-indefinitely-confined-wisconsin-voters-who-can-vote-without-ids-increased-from-60000-in-2016-to-over-200000-in-2020\/\" title=\"Confirmed: The Number of &#039;Indefinitely Confined&#039; Wisconsin Voters Who Can Vote without IDs Increased from 60,000 in 2016 to Over 200,000 in 2020\">attorney&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s office in Los Angeles. The co-conspirators, some of whom use aliases, are Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, Jazael Padilla Resto, Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, Jorge Enrique Alban, Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, and Eduardo Macias Ibarra.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the defendants have also been charged with smaller heists throughout San Bernardino County.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3445518\/supreme-court-upholds-tennessee-ban-transgender-procedures-minors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TENNESSEE BAN ON TRANSGENDER PROCEDURES FOR MINORS \">SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TENNESSEE BAN ON TRANSGENDER PROCEDURES FOR MINORS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If convicted, Mestanza, Padilla, Lugo, Valencia, and Alban would face up to 20 years in federal prison for each robbery charge. All the defendants would face up to five years for the theft conspiracy charge and 10 years for each theft charge.<\/p>\n<p>The California caper drew comparisons to infamous international heists, including the 1983 Brink&rsquo;s-Mat gold bullion job near London Heathrow Airport, 2003&rsquo;s Antwerp diamond theft in Belgium, and 2015&rsquo;s Hatton Garden burglary in London.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2146919\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2146919\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seven Californians indicted for largest jewelry heist in U.S. history<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2448919,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/brinks-.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4045,36508,15074,57406,32784],"class_list":["post-2448918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-california","tag-crime-news","tag-indictment","tag-jewelry-heist","tag-us-history"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/brinks-.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2448918"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448918\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2448922,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448918\/revisions\/2448922"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2448919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2448918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2448918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2448918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}