Crew of Chilean thieves who targeted elite American athletes’ homes — including Travis Kelce’s — arrested
Crew of Chilean thieves who targeted elite American athletes’ homes — including Travis Kelce’s — arrested
Chris Nesi, Ronny ReyesSun, May 24, 2026 at 10:05 PM UTC
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Two Chilean men accused in a series of home burglaries targeting top US athletes — including NFL stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes — between 2024 and 2025 were part of a crew arrested for robbing the home of former Argentine tennis champion Juan Martín Del Potro this month.
A photo from an FBI affidavit shows, from left, Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes and Bastian Jimenez Freraut, along with an unidentified person whose face is redacted. Justice Department
Ignacio Zuñiga Cartes and Bastián Jiménez Freraut, both 23, were arrested earlier this month for stealing jewelry, medals and rackets from the 2009 US Open champ’s home in Tandil.
Investigators uncovered the identities of the accused burglars through a traffic ticket that was issued in Buenos Aires a day before the May 15 robbery, according to Argentine newspaper Clarín.
The officials discovered that Cartes and Freraut were part of a South American crime ring that stole from the homes of high-profile US athletes including NFL stars Mahomes and Joe Burrow, NBA player Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs athlete Kelce, fiancé of pop megastar Taylor Swift.
The thieves, who traveled to the US for the crimes, timed their burglaries to coincide with the athletes’ away games, and stole watches, cash, jewelry and other luxury items after breaking into their homes totaling over $3.5 million, according to the Justice Department.
Alfredo Espinosa Gallard is a member of the gang of thieves who robbed Juan Martín del Potro’s house in Tandil. Delegación Departamental de Investigaciones (DDI)
Rodolfo Cartes Escobar is another gang member, who was involved with the robbery. Delegación Departamental de Investigaciones (DDI)
Del Potro’s mother initially flagged authorities after arriving at the Tandil home on May 15 while her son was away, according to police records.
Investigators then caught video of the five-men crew — consisting of two more Chilean nationals and an Argentinian — traveling in a Chevrolet Astra near the crime scene.
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Cartes was identified as the driver, and a speeding ticket from the day before helped track the crew down.
Ignacio Zúñiga Corte, 23, was one of the two people arrested by the DDI following the robbery. Delegación Departamental de Investigaciones (DDI)
Bastian Jiménez Freraut, 23, was also arrested by the DDI. Delegación Departamental de Investigaciones (DDI)
NFL tight end Travis Kelce’s home was broken in to. NBAE via Getty Images
Prosecutors noted that DNA taken from Freraut, who had a cut at the time he was detained, matched the DNA taken from the robbed US athletes’ homes.
The string of thefts made headlines in 2024 when Kelce and Mahomes’ homes were both ransacked on consecutive days.
The robberies occurred just as the athletes were scheduled to play the New Orleans Saints.
Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina greets the fans part of a farewell game between Juan Martin Del Potro and Novak Djokovic at Mary Teran Weiss Stadium on December 1, 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Getty Images
Investigators claimed the men would travel to the players’ hometowns, rent a hotel and car, and wait for the sports stars to leave for major games before breaking and entering, Clarín reported.
Along with Cartes and Freraut, police arrested Chileans Rodolfo Cartes Escobar, 35 and Alfredo Espinosa Gallardo, 23, and Argentinian Walter D’Amelo, 39.
The suspects are currently being held in Tandil as investigators continue to interrogate the men and look to work with international authorities over the charges from the 2024-2025 robberies.
Source: “AOL Sports”
