7 Men Charged in $100 Million Jewelry Heist, Largest in United States History

It looks like there may be a new Ocean’s 7. 

Seven men were charged in connection to a 2022 robbery that federal prosecutors described as “the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history,” according to a June 17 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for California’s Central district.  

The defendants—identified as Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, 31, Jazael Padilla Resto, 36, Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, 41, Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, 60, Jorge Enrique Alban, 33, Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, 42, and Eduardo Macias Ibarra, 36—have been accused of stealing nearly $100 million in gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and luxury watches from an armored car in July 2022, per the release. 

At the time, the truck was transporting 73 bags containing millions of dollars of jewelry that had been displayed at an international jewelry show in San Mateo, Calif., according to prosecutors. The men allegedly tracked the vehicle for 300 miles before stopping it in Lebec, Calif., and stealing 24 of the bags, which the victims have valued at $100 million.