Seven Men Charged in $100 Million Jewelry Heist
Federal authorities have charged seven men for their alleged roles in what is being called the “largest jewelry heist in American history”—a $100 million robbery of a Brinks truck in California.
The Charges
The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California announced the arrests in a press release on Tuesday. The men are accused of stealing gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and luxury watches from a Brinks semitruck in July 2022 while it was transporting goods from a jewelry showcase.
Each defendant faces:
- Two counts of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipment
- One count of theft from interstate and foreign shipment
The Defendants
The seven men charged in the case are:
- Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, 31, of Pasadena
- Jazael Padilla Resto (also known as Ricardo Noel Moya, Ricardo Barbosa, and Alberto Javier Loza Chamorro), 36, of Boyle Heights (currently in Arizona state prison)
- Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig (a.k.a. Walter Loza), 41, of Rialto
- Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, 60, of Los Angeles
- Jorge Enrique Alban, 33, of South Los Angeles
- Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, 42, of Upland
- Eduardo Macias Ibarra, 36, of Los Angeles
How the Heist Unfolded
According to the indictment, the robbery was meticulously planned:
- On July 10, 2022, three of the men surveilled a Brinks truck leaving a jewelry show in San Mateo, California.
- That night and into the next day, the group tracked the truck as it traveled through the state.
- They eventually robbed the vehicle, making off with 24 bags of jewelry worth an estimated $100 million.
Additional Crimes and Recoveries
Some of the stolen property was recovered by the FBI during a search warrant executed on Monday. Authorities also allege that some of the defendants were involved in other thefts, including:
- Heists of Samsung electronics
- Theft of Apple AirTags
Potential Sentences
If convicted:
- Mestanza, Padilla, Lugo, Valencia, and Alban face up to 20 years in federal prison for each robbery charge.
- All defendants face up to 5 years for the conspiracy charge and 10 years for each theft charge.
Opinion: The Brazen Nature of the Crime
This heist stands out not just for its staggering value but also for its bold execution. Tracking a Brinks truck across California and pulling off a robbery of this scale requires meticulous planning—and a high level of risk. While some stolen goods were recovered, the case highlights vulnerabilities in high-value transport security. If convicted, the defendants could face decades behind bars, but the sheer audacity of the crime raises questions about how such thefts can be prevented in the future. Authorities must reassess security protocols for transporting luxury goods to deter similar schemes.
