Seven men from Southern California have been charged in what federal prosecutors are calling the biggest jewelry heist in U.S. history. They are accused of stealing around $100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and luxury watches from an armored truck in July 2022. This theft occurred as the truck was leaving an international jewelry show in San Mateo, California.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the suspects tracked the truck for about 300 miles, following it from the San Francisco area to rest stops near Los Angeles. There, they managed to steal 24 bags, which contained about one-third of the truck’s cargo. The stolen items were then taken back to East Hollywood, where the suspects reportedly planned to sell them.
The men, aged between 31 and 60, face serious federal charges, including conspiracy to commit theft and theft from interstate and foreign shipment. Some of them are also linked to other robberies. For instance, four of the suspects allegedly stole over $240,000 worth of Samsung electronics in March 2022, while one of them was involved in a separate theft of Apple AirTags worth $57,000 in May of the same year.
Two of the suspects, Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores and Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, were arrested and appeared in court recently, pleading not guilty. They are currently in custody, awaiting a jury trial set for August 1. Another suspect, Jazael Padilla Resto, is in an Arizona prison for a different crime and is expected to appear in court soon. Four other suspects remain at large.
The FBI’s Los Angeles field office, along with local law enforcement, worked for years on this investigation. They were able to recover some of the stolen jewelry during searches conducted in mid-June, although details about what was found remain unclear.
The indictment details a well-planned operation where the suspects scouted trucks carrying valuable cargo. They would follow these trucks and strike when the drivers took breaks. In one instance, they threatened a driver with a knife while stealing Apple AirTags. This pattern of behavior shows a calculated approach to their crimes.
The impact of the heist has been significant. Many victims, primarily senior jewelers, have suffered greatly. Some have left the jewelry business entirely, while others are struggling to stay afloat. An attorney representing these jewelers described the situation as a tragedy.
This heist is not the first major robbery in Los Angeles this year. In April, thieves tunneled into a downtown jewelry store, stealing at least $10 million worth of items. As the investigation continues, authorities are focused on bringing all those involved to justice and helping the victims recover from this massive theft.