7 men have been convicted for committing the “largest jewelry heist in U.S. history.” The three men reportedly stole gold and diamonds worth $100 million during the robbery.
The United States Attorney’s Office Central District of California announced that the 7 men were responsible for stealing “$100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and luxury watches.” The theft was committed back in July 2022. The group of criminals stole the bounty from a Brinks semitruck.
The group of accused has been charged with conspiracy to commit theft. The criminals are named Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, 31, of Pasadena; Jazael Padilla Resto, 36, of Boyle Heights; Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, 41, of Rialto; Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, 60, of the Rampart Village neighborhood of Los Angeles; Jorge Enrique Alban, 33, of South Los Angeles; Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, 42, of Upland; and Eduardo Macias Ibarra, 36 from Los Angeles.
Two of the men of the group are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. Padilla Resto will also be expected to appear in federal court sometime in the upcoming weeks.
Group of men indicted by federal grand jury in theft of $100M in jewelry & watches from @Brinks semi truck at rest stop in Lebec (Kern Co.) after following it from San Mateo jewelry show. It’s largest jewelry heist in U.S. history, per @USAO_LosAngeles @FBILosAngeles pic.twitter.com/5I1q2QT87l
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) June 17, 2025
“According to the indictment, on the evening of July 10, 2022, Mestanza, Lugo, and Alban scouted a Brinks semitruck leaving an international jewelry show in San Mateo, California with 73 bags containing millions of dollars of jewelry,” the Press release from the United States Attorney’s Office Central District of California read.
The release also revealed how the group of criminals trailed the truck for 300 miles. The truck left with the precious jewels from San Mateo, where a jewelry show was being held. The semitruck was scheduled to make stops at Buttonwillow and Lebec.
When the truck stopped at Lebec, that’s when the group struck. The men allegedly stole 24 bags from the Brinks truck. The jewels in the bags are worth approximately $100 million.
Seven men from Calif have been charged in the “largest jewelry heist in US history”, involving the theft of $100m (£75m) worth of gold, gems, and luxury watches. The heist has been a mystery in CA nearly three years from a Brinks company truck. Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig and Jeson… pic.twitter.com/ROUxTz39SO
— Sumner (@renmusb1) June 18, 2025
According to the release, Mestanza, Padilla, Lugo, and Valencia allegedly stole $240,573 worth of Samsung electronics from a cargo shipment in Ontario a few months before the heist. The above-mentioned group of men and Alban have also previously stolen $57,377 worth of AirTags. The men allegedly threatened the box truck driver with a knife to carry out the robbery.
In May 2022, the group of criminals also stole Samsung Electronics, which cost $14,081 from an “interstate shipment in Fontana.” Mestanza, Padilla, Lugo, Valencia, and Alban could be in for a 20-year sentence in prison if convicted.
