The last member of a Colombian transnational robbery crew has pleaded guilty for his involvement in a series of jewelry thefts targeting couriers and high-end retailers in South Florida, resulting in losses exceeding $5 million. Leroy Ortega, also known as “El Enano,” 43, from Miami, entered his plea on February 12. He was the final defendant among 11 individuals charged as part of an operation against South American theft groups operating in the Southern District of Florida.
All 11 defendants were convicted through Operation Boujee Bandits, which investigated a Colombian theft group that targeted jewelry salespersons across South Florida and other areas. The investigation led to three indictments and an information covering robberies and money laundering activities from September 2019 to July 2021.
“This transnational theft crew came to the United States to steal from American businesses and preyed upon unsuspecting, hard-working citizens who were just trying to do their jobs as jewelry couriers,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Leroy Ortega played an integral role with other already convicted defendants to execute sophisticated, high-value robberies that caused millions of dollars in losses. The Criminal Division will investigate and prosecute organized theft networks and hold to account those individuals who participated in them at all levels.”
“These defendants operated as part of a coordinated South American theft group that targeted hardworking jewelry couriers and sales professionals transporting high-value diamonds, watches, and other merchandise,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “They followed their victims from jewelry exchanges, used fraudulent identification to rent vehicles, and relied on force and violence to steal valuable inventory. Those who commit organized robberies in South Florida will face federal prosecution and significant prison time. We will continue dismantling theft crews that threaten the safety of our community and the integrity of our marketplace.”
“Eliminating these brazen South American Theft Groups reinforces the FBI’s mission of ensuring public safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “With our hardworking special agents, analysts, and professional staff triaging leads and sharing threat intelligence with law enforcement partners around the world, we’ve been able to efficiently and effectively disrupt these criminal groups.”
Court documents state that Ortega was involved with others in forcibly taking jewelry and property from people they believed worked buying or selling jewelry throughout South Florida. To carry out these crimes, members rented vehicles using false identification documents so they could follow targets from locations such as International Jewelry Exchanges or Seybold Jewelry Building before robbing them—sometimes using weapons resembling knives.
Ortega admitted responsibility for two robberies: On October 16, 2019, he participated with Allan Lucas in stealing what they thought was a case containing jewelry but turned out to be photography equipment belonging to a photographer who had been photographing jewelry items; during this incident Ortega reversed a car while fleeing, injuring the victim who tried to retrieve his belongings.
On November 7, 2019, Ortega joined co-conspirators Andres Barahona Poveda (a Colombian national) and Edwin Castillo (of Pembroke Pines) in robbing approximately $125,000 worth of assorted jewelry from a salesman whom they followed back to his business in Miami Beach. During this robbery Ortega smashed vehicle windows while another conspirator took a backpack containing valuables; when the victim attempted escape Ortega held him inside by keeping his door shut.
To facilitate these crimes Carlos Morales rented vehicles using fake Venezuelan driver’s licenses.
Ortega pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy along with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery; sentencing is scheduled for May 1 where he faces up to twenty years imprisonment.
Other convicted defendants include:
- Allan Lucas: sentenced to 168 months
- Diana Grisales Basto (Colombian national): sentenced to 97 months
- Carlos Morales: sentenced to 60 months
- Giovanni Cardenas (“El Mono”, Colombian national): sentenced to 110 months
- Andres Barahona Poveda: sentenced to 87 months
- Edwin Castillo: sentenced to 108 months
- Demian Gonzalez Contreras (Colombian national): sentenced to 74 months
- Victor Fabian Valenzuela (Colombian national): sentenced to 57 months
- Hernando Rodriguez Mahecha (“Nando”, Colombian national): sentenced to 60 months
- Mark Simon (of New York): sentenced to 57 months
The FBI Tampa Field Office led this investigation with assistance from multiple agencies including FBI Miami Field Office; local police departments such as Miami-Dade Police Department; Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office; Fort Pierce Police Department; Boca Raton Police Department; Boynton Beach Police Department; Miami Beach Police Department; Tampa Police Department; Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office; plus support from international offices like DOJ's Judicial Attaché office based in Bogotá Colombia—and private sector collaboration via Jewelry Security Alliance.
Prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Dobbins alongside Trial Attorneys Lakeita F. Rox-Love & Christopher D. Usher II from DOJ's Violent Crime & Racketeering Section.
Related court documents are available through the website for the District Court for the Southern District of Florida or at PACER under case number 23-cr-20272.
