Context:

Seven individuals have been charged in connection with a sophisticated scheme to rob an armored truck carrying $100 million worth of jewelry, marking what is considered the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history. The group allegedly followed a Brinks tractor trailer from a jewelry show in San Mateo, California, to a remote truck stop in Lebec, where they stole 24 bags of valuable items. The stolen goods included gemstones, Rolex watches, and unique jewelry pieces, affecting sixteen merchants. Federal agents have recovered some of the stolen jewelry and identified the suspects through cell phone data, with two suspects appearing in court and a third already imprisoned on a separate charge. The defendants face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit theft and robbery, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison for each robbery charge if convicted.

Dive Deeper:

• Seven alleged co-conspirators have been charged after a federal grand jury indictment revealed their involvement in the theft of $100 million in jewelry from an armored truck in California in July 2022. This theft is touted by prosecutors as the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history.

• The scheme involved tracking a Brinks tractor trailer from an international jewelry show in San Mateo and striking at a truck stop in Lebec, where the group allegedly stole 24 bags of jewelry, including high-value gemstones and Rolex watches.

• Prosecutors stated that the heist affected sixteen merchants, with some stolen items being custom, one-of-a-kind pieces and loose diamonds valued at nearly $500,000 each wholesale.

• Federal agents investigating the case utilized cell phone data to identify the suspects, noting that five of them deactivated their devices following the heist. Some of the stolen jewelry was subsequently recovered during a search warrant execution.

• The crew involved in the heist has been described as serial thieves, with past incidents including the robbery of electronics from truck drivers in Ontario, California, earlier in 2022.

• The defendants face several charges, including conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipments, with five of them also charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery.

• If convicted, the defendants could face severe penalties, including a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison for each robbery charge and up to 10 years for each theft charge.