• Seven Southern California men charged in the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history.
• The alleged theft involved a $100 million robbery of a Brinks truck.
• Suspects tracked the Brinks truck from a jewelry show and stole 24 bags of goods.
• Charges include conspiracy to commit theft and robbery from interstate shipments.
• The heist took place in July 2022, with investigations ongoing for other related robberies.

Seven men from Southern California have been charged in what the U.S. Attorney's Office describes as the "largest jewelry heist in U.S. history," involving the theft of approximately $100 million in gold, diamonds, and luxury watches from a Brinks truck in July 2022. The suspects allegedly followed the truck from a jewelry show in San Mateo to a rest stop, where they stole 24 bags worth of valuables, amounting to roughly one-third of the truck's cargo. They subsequently attempted to cover their tracks by deactivating their cell phones, according to CBS News and India Times.

The federal indictment notes that the seven men, aged between 31 and 60 years, are facing various charges, including conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipment. This group is also linked to separate truck robberies, which included stealing electronics in subsequent months. Prosecutors revealed that the defendants had established a system to execute these thefts without any witnesses present, leading to extended criminal activities over a span of three years, according to NPR and India Times.

Among the suspects are Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores and Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, both of whom appeared in court and pleaded not guilty. The remaining five men are still at large, while it has been reported that one suspect is currently serving time in an Arizona prison and is expected to appear in court soon. The conspiracy involved meticulous planning, including surveillance of the Brinks truck as it was loaded with valuable merchandise, according to CBS News and NPR.

Prior to the heist, the same group had executed similar robberies, including stealing Apple AirTags and electronics during other heists. Authorities reported that the defendants would often take advantage of moments when truck drivers became distracted or left their vehicles unattended, highlighting the sophistication of their operation. Investigators have relied heavily on surveillance footage and digital evidence to build their case, as no direct witnesses were available during many of the thefts, according to India Times and NPR.

While some stolen items have been recovered, detailed accounts of how the defendants spent their illicit gains remain unclear, as described by Jena MacCabe, an assistant U.S. attorney. She noted, "I think as we continue to investigate... we'll know more," suggesting that ongoing investigations may reveal further information about the defendants' activities following the robberies; this emphasizes the ongoing complexity of the situation, according to CBS News and NPR.