A group of Colombian migrants orchestrated heists in multiple states, stealing millions of dollars in gems and selling them to a jewelry peddler in Putnam Valley who melted down the gold, federal prosecutors revealed. Operating as the “South American Theft Group,” the gang targeted traveling jewelry salespeople and stores in Florida, Georgia, California, and beyond from September 2019 to August 2021. Their most significant theft occurred in February 2020 when they stole up to $2.6 million in merchandise from a jewelry salesperson in Boynton Beach, FL. Another notable theft included $730,000 in jewelry from a car in Boca Raton, FL, the previous year, along with $125,000 in a Miami Beach robbery. The stolen goods were sold to Mark Simon, a Westchester County resident, at discounted prices in cash, with meetings often occurring in Florida hotel rooms. Simon, 56, was arrested for money laundering conspiracy and released on bond, pleading not guilty.
This South American theft group has been linked to crimes nationwide, including thefts at the homes of NFL players and a heist at a Long Island jewelry store. The involvement of illegal migrants in these criminal activities has raised concerns, with some suspects managing to escape after being released on bail. Simon, who is active in both retail and wholesale jewelry sales, maintains his innocence through his lawyer, Jeffrey Chartier.
