Overview

• An indictment returned June 11 alleges the group stole 24 bags of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and luxury watches from a Brinks truck during a July 2022 stop in Lebec, California.
• Prosecutors contend the defendants scouted the vehicle at a San Mateo jewelry show and followed it overnight through Buttonwillow to the Lebec rest stop.
• Two of the men were arrested and appeared in federal court on June 17, a third is serving an Arizona burglary sentence and the other four remain at large.
• Federal agents say they recovered some of the stolen jewelry during search warrants executed June 16 in Southern California.
• Investigators linked the men to earlier cargo thefts of Samsung electronics and Apple AirTags, and all seven face interstate theft charges while five also face Hobbs Act robbery counts carrying up to 20 years in prison.