Los Angeles, California – Federal prosecutors have unsealed an indictment charging seven men from the Los Angeles area with the largest jewelry heist in US history, a calculated and audacious crime in which an estimated $100 million in gems, gold, and luxury watches vanished from an armored truck under cover of night.
According to the indictment, the heist took place on July 11, 2022, at the Flying J Travel Center in Lebec, California, a remote truck stop off Interstate 5. The suspects allegedly targeted a Brink’s tractor-trailer carrying 73 bags of valuable merchandise from a jewelry show in San Mateo to a trade show in Pasadena. When the truck driver pulled over for food, the men allegedly pried open the trailer and stole 24 of the bags in just 27 minutes.
Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, Jazael Padilla Resto, Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, Jorge Enrique Alban, Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, and Eduardo Macias Ibarra are all Southern California residents between the ages of 31 and 60.
The men are now facing federal charges that include conspiracy to commit theft from an interstate shipment, theft itself, and, for several of them, additional robbery-related charges that could result in sentences of up to 20 years.
Prosecutors argue that the men were not amateurs. The indictment links the group to a number of previous thefts in San Bernardino County involving high-value electronics such as Samsung shipments and Apple AirTags, which were sometimes stolen with threats of violence.
Authorities argue that those smaller heists laid the groundwork for Brink’s more complex and lucrative operation.
The jewelry theft allegedly began on July 8 at the International Gem and Jewelry Show in San Mateo, where Padilla is accused of scouting vendors and their merchandise. By July 10, several members of the group were allegedly following the Brink’s truck as it drove south through California.
While some of the stolen goods were reportedly recovered during recent search warrants, authorities have not revealed the total value of the items recovered, and much of the haul remains unaccounted for.
Aside from the criminal indictment, the heist has resulted in an ongoing legal battle between Brink’s and the jewelers whose merchandise was stolen. The armored transport company claims its liability is limited to $8.7 million, based on declared shipping values.
The jewelers, some of whom claim they under-reported values to save money, are suing Brink’s for much more, accusing it of gross negligence.
