'Largest jewelry heist in U.S. history' suspect agrees to plead guilty
This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
See more from the L.A.Times in Google Search.
Set us as preferred A man facing federal charges in what authorities have called the largest jewelry heist in U.S.history has agreed to plead guilty for his role in the crime.Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado was one of seven men charged with breaking into a Brinks big rig at a Grapevine truck stop and stealing around $100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and luxury watches in 2022.
A month after charges were filed last year, authorities arrested Mestanza at an international airport in Panama, as he was on his way to Ecuador.In a court filing made public Monday, Mestanza agreed to plead guilty to interference with commerce by robbery.His plea hearing is set for Nov.
19.Mestanza could face up to 20 years in prison.
Mestanza’s attorney declined to comment.California Cellular phone data and a serendipitous turn eventually led authorities to the seven men accused of carrying out the burglary of a Brink’s big rig in July 2022.Three of Mestanza’s co-defendants are set to go to trial in March.
Another, Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, was deported by U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement as he awaited trial.
Prosecutors said they were unaware of the deportation and still hope to bring Flores to trial.In his plea agreement, which was signed last week, Mestanza admitted to a series of thefts and robberies — including the Brinks heist.According to the agreement, Mestanza and co-conspirators honed in on a Brinks semitruck leaving an international jewelry show in San Mateo on July 10 carrying 73 bags containing millions of dollars worth of jewelry.Mestanza admitted he and others coordinated by phone as they followed the truck around 300 miles to rest stops in Buttonwillow and Lebec.
On July 11, according to the plea agreement, Mestanza and co-conspirators broke the truck’s locks and stole 24 bags of jewelry —...