Four suspects from Chile are charged in connection with high-profile burglaries in Ohio, including one linked to Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow
Ohio: Four men from Chile have been arrested in connection with a string of upscale burglaries. These guys are linked to break-ins at the homes of wealthy individuals, including some famous athletes.
Authorities say they were involved in a burglary on December 9 in Hamilton County. This just so happens to be when Joe Burrow’s home was hit. While the court documents don’t name him as a victim, a Bengals hat taken during the break-in was found in the suspects’ SUV.
Ohio’s Attorney General announced that a grand jury indicted these four on various charges, including being part of a criminal gang. The Southwest Ohio Burglary Task Force has been working hard on this case.
Interestingly, the suspects didn’t enter pleas during their preliminary hearing. They were initially detained for being in the country illegally, and they’re currently in custody without bail.
One of the suspects, Bastian Alejandro Morales, had a cellphone that pinged near Burrow’s home during the burglary. It’s a bit wild how they were caught; police stopped their SUV during an investigation and found some stolen items inside.
Burrow was actually in Texas playing a game when his home was ransacked. The Bengals and Burrow’s agent haven’t commented yet, but it’s clear that this is a serious issue.
In fact, the NFL and NBA have warned athletes about these South American theft groups targeting high-net-worth individuals. It’s a real concern, especially since many athletes’ homes are public knowledge.
The suspects have been identified as Morales, Sergio Andres Cabello, Jordan Francisco Sanchez, and Alejandro Esteban Huaiquil-Chavez. They’ve all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
It’s also worth noting that some officials are pointing fingers at the ESTA Visa Waiver Program, saying it’s being exploited by criminals. They’re not coming to the U.S. for a vacation; they’re here to commit crimes.
While investigators haven’t directly linked these four to other burglaries, they’re definitely part of a larger investigation into high-value home break-ins across multiple states.
During a traffic stop, police noticed the smell of marijuana and found tools commonly used by burglars. It’s a pretty intense situation, and it seems like these guys were under surveillance for a while.
Reports suggest that Burrow’s home was the only multimillion-dollar property hit in Hamilton County on that date. It’s a crazy story that highlights the risks athletes face when it comes to their homes.
