A Colombian national has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for his role in a jewelry theft ring that targeted stores and kiosks in malls across the United States. Edixon Rincon Puentes, 45, who last lived in Los Angeles, California, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport.
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, Rincon Puentes and several other Colombian nationals committed burglaries at jewelry stores and kiosks from May 2023 through April 2024. The group conducted surveillance before each burglary, posing as customers to examine merchandise and assess security measures.
Rincon Puentes acted mainly as a lookout and driver during three specific burglaries: at Connecticut Post Mall in Milford on October 5, 2023; in Hamilton Township, New Jersey on October 27, 2023; and in Henrico, Virginia on November 4, 2023. Other members of the group carried out additional burglaries in states including New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, New York, Illinois, and Virginia.
The total losses from these crimes exceed $4.4 million. Of this amount, $938,148 is attributed to the three burglaries involving Rincon Puentes directly.
Law enforcement has not recovered any of the stolen jewelry so far. Investigators determined that much of it was sold to a jewelry store owner in Queens, New York. That individual then resold items to others who melted down the gold.
Rincon Puentes has been detained since July 17, 2024. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy on November 8 of that year.
"This investigation has been conducted by the FBI New Haven’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force with the assistance of the Milford (Conn.) Police Department, the Hamilton Township (N.J.) Police Division, the Delaware State Police, the Henrico County (Va.) Police Division, the New York State Police, the New York Police Department, the Pensacola (Fla.) Police Department, the Paterson (N.J.) Police Department, the Mentor (Ohio) Police Department, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Police Department, the Greece (N.Y.) Police Department, and the Lombard (Ill.) Police Department," according to U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan's office. "The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Conor M. Reardon."
U.S. Attorney Sullivan also thanked other agencies for their support: "U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida,and FBI Field Offices in New York, Dallas, Miami,and Tampa for their assistance."
This prosecution falls under an initiative by Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), created through Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF coordinates efforts among federal agencies to address criminal cartels and transnational organizations operating within or outside U.S borders.
"HSTF New Haven comprises agents and officers from the FBI DEA HSI ATF U.S Postal Inspection Service Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation U.S Department of Labor and Connecticut State Police with prosecutions led bythe U S Attorney’s Office for The District Of Connecticut," according to information provided.
