The theft of Colombian migrants stole millions of Americans during the spree of naughty field attractions: Federals

A gang of Colombian migrants took millions of dollars in gems in robberies in several states, channeling his loot to a street vendor from Jewelry of the Putnam Valley that melted and surrounded the gold, federal prosecutors said this week.

The “South America theft group” operated in Florida, Georgia, California and other places aimed at travel jewelry vendors, and shops, from September 2019 to August 2021, authorities said.

Its largest score occurred in February 2020, when they stole up to $ 2.6 million in merchandise from a traveler jewelry seller in Boynton Beach, FL, as shown by the judicial records. The previous year, they obtained $ 730,000 in jewelry during a September theft of a car in mouth mouse, fl, and $ 125,000 during a November theft in Miami Beach.

All stolen merchandise was downloaded to Mark Simon, a Westchester County resident who allegedly paid cash cutting prices often traveling to Florida to meet them in hotel rooms, prosecutors said.

Simon, 56, allegedly paid only $ 16,000 for $ 1 million in stolen ornaments in a robbery of Dalton, GA, according to prosecutors and judicial records.

Simon was arrested Wednesday at his home in Jefferson Valley for conspiracy charges to wash monetary instruments and released with a bail of $ 50,000, according to the records. He He declared himself innocent.

It is not clear if any of the thieves, who were not publicly identified, have been arrested or deported.

South American robbery groups have committed shameless crimes throughout the country, Including December theft at the house of Ohio of the Marshal of Campo de Cinncinati Bengals, Joe Burrow,where a trio of Chilean thieves allegedly stole $ 300,000 in luxury products.

It is believed that a similar gang was behind October theft In the houses of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

In November, six illegal migrants who were part of a group of theft of South America used mountains To enter a jewelry in Long Island And later they were trapped, just to flee after five of them were released on bail, and some of the suspects used the mountains to cut ankle monitors they had received.

Simon is involved in sales of retail and wholesale jewels, said his lawyer, Jeffrey Chartier.

“If you are in the wholesale business, look for the best products prices,” Chartier said as he maintains his client’s innocence.