$100 Million Jewelry Heist: Largest in U.S. History Shocks Industry and Nation -

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U.S. authorities have cracked what is now officially the largest heist in American history. A group of seven men has been charged with stealing over $100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and other precious goods from a Brink’s armored truck in July 2022. This brazen operation unfolded in the dead of night at a rest stop in Lebec, California. The heist was executed in just 27 minutes.

This theft took place as the truck was transporting high-value items from the International Gem and Jewelry Show in San Mateo to an event in Pasadena. The law enforcement truck pulled over around 2 a.m. at a Flying J truck stop. A guard remained asleep in the cab, and others went inside to grab food. The short window, the group of thieves quietly broke the lock of the truck and made off with 24 bags of valuable goods. The bags were full of high-end watches, loose gems, and handcrafted jewelry.

What was more alarming is that the lock was reportedly “not particularly sophisticated,” making it an easy target for experienced criminals. Though Brink’s initially claimed the loss was around $8.7 million based on he value declared by vendors for insurance purposes, the jewelers whose merchandise was stolen insisted on the true value. The true value exceeded $100 million. The items were underinsured, a common practice among small and mid-sized jewelers who could not afford full coverage. This led to lawsuits from the affected businesses, some of which were family-run enterprises devastated by the losses. Some jewelers said that they lost their life’s work pieces that had taken decades to curate.

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This week, there were seven suspects who were formally indicted: 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. Their charges range from conspiracy to commit theft from interstate shipments to Hobbs Act violations, which cover robbery that interferes with commerce. There were two suspects who had been arrested. They have appeared in federal court in Los Angeles. This is currently serving their time in Arizona on unrelated charges, while four others will remain fugitives.

This heist rivals some of the most notorious jewelry thefts in global history, including the Antwerp Diamond Heist and the Dresden Green Vault burglary. It has also sparked widespread calls for tighter security protocols in armored transport services. Critics argue that existing safeguards—especially during rest stops—are dangerously inadequate for the cargo involved.