Seven California men have been charged in what federal authorities are calling the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history, involving the theft of $100 million worth of diamonds, gold, and luxury watches from a Brinks armored truck nearly three years ago.
The high-stakes robbery, long shrouded in mystery, occurred on July 11, 2022, at a remote rest stop in Lebec, California. According to court documents, the suspects tailed the Brinks truck for nearly 300 miles after it left a jewelry show near San Mateo. The vehicle was en route to another event in Pasadena.
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While one driver slept and the other was eating, the suspects allegedly broke into the truck and stole 24 bags of valuables, out of the 73 originally loaded. The theft was discovered when the driver returned to find the truck’s padlock sawed off. Officials say no weapons were used in the crime.
The Department of Justice announced the charges Tuesday, revealing that one suspect had scouted the jewelry show in advance. It remains unclear exactly how the suspects gained access to the secured vehicle.
A portion of the stolen items has since been recovered through search warrants executed on June 16, though the extent of the recovery is unknown. Attorney Jerry Kroll, who represents some of the affected jewelers—many of them elderly and retired—expressed hope but uncertainty about compensation:
“Most of my clients are senior citizens… Some are 85 years old. This is really serious,” Kroll told the BBC.
The names of the suspects have not yet been publicly released, and it’s unclear whether any of them have legal representation. The investigation into the full scope of the heist and the whereabouts of the remaining stolen goods is ongoing.
