Four men have been arrested after a months-long investigation into a series of high-profile burglaries targeting multi-million dollar homes. Ohio authorities confirmed the arrests, which are tied to a December break-in at the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Suspects identified as part of international crime ring
The suspects, all from Chile, are believed to be part of a larger criminal network responsible for multiple robberies spanning several states. According to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Alexander Chavez, Bastian Morales, Jordan Sanchez and Sergio Cabello face charges of criminal gang participation, corruption and possession of burglary tools.
Court documents possibly link the suspects to a burglary in Ohio coinciding with the timing of the break-in at Burrow’s home. While the documents do not explicitly name the Bengals quarterback as a victim, authorities said items believed to be stolen from his residence were recovered in the suspects’ SUV.
In a search of the vehicle, investigators found Bengals and LSU memorabilia, believed to have been taken during the robbery while Burrow was away for a game in Dallas. The SUV was also connected to other criminal activities, although specific details regarding additional burglaries have not been released.
The ongoing investigation has already led to the arrest of six other South American burglary rings, authorities said.
NFL and NBA warned professional athletes
In light of the high-profile nature of the crimes, the FBI had previously warned the NFL and NBA about international organized crime groups targeting professional athletes for high-end items.
Since the start of 2024, several other professional athletes have been victimized in similar break-ins, including Kansas City Chiefs players Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes and Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr.
The suspects, who were initially detained for overstaying their visas, related to their illegal entry into the United States. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges and are currently being held without bail.
