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Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores was set to stand trial for his alleged role in the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history. Instead, thanks to ICE, Flores is a free man walking the streets of Ecuador instead.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Flores was one of seven men from the Los Angeles area who were indicted on theft and conspiracy to commit theft charges for their alleged roles in the crime, which affected 14 different jewelers whose merchandise was in the truck that was broken into.
Prosecutors say the men apprehended a Brinks security semitruck at a Flying J truck stop in Lebec, California, in 2022 as one guard grabbed food at a gas station and the other slept in the cab. At the time, the jewelry was being transported from an international jewelry show.
The truck contained around $100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and luxury watches.
Flores, who pleaded not guilty, faced up to 15 years in prison if convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipment and theft from interstate and foreign shipment.
However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Flores on or around Dec. 29, according to his attorney, who filed a motion to dismiss the case on Jan. 9 and stated that he had “just learned” his client had been deported.
Attorneys Left Furious After ICE Accidentally Frees Alleged Jewel Thief
“When a defendant in a major federal theft case leaves the country before trial, victims are left without answers, without a verdict, and without closure,” Jerry Kroll, an attorney for some of the jewelry companies, said of the incident.
“For our clients — jewelers who lost their life’s work — this outcome exposes a gap in the system that deserves transparency. They are entitled to clear answers about how this happened and whether safeguards exist to prevent it from happening again.”
Further court filings showed that Flores had been in ICE custody since September and opted for deportation.
Robertson asked that the judge dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning that charges cannot be refiled, on the grounds that the government had chosen to forgo Flores’ criminal prosecution.