The last member of a Colombian transnational robbery crew has pleaded guilty in Miami for his involvement in a series of robberies and thefts from jewelry couriers, resulting in losses exceeding $5 million. Leroy Ortega, also known as “El Enano,” 43, was the final defendant among 11 individuals indicted as part of an operation targeting South American theft groups operating in South Florida.
The group’s convictions were secured through Operation Boujee Bandits, which investigated a Colombian South American Theft Group responsible for targeting jewelry salespersons both in South Florida and other locations. The investigation led to three indictments and an information charging the defendants with robberies and money laundering activities between September 2019 and 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 indicate that Ortega was involved with a group that forcibly took jewelry or property from people believed to be involved in buying or selling jewelry across South Florida. To carry out these crimes, members rented vehicles using false identification documents so they could follow targets leaving places like International Jewelry Exchanges or Seybold Jewelry Building before robbing them—sometimes threatening victims with knife-like weapons.
Ortega admitted his participation in two robberies: On October 16, 2019, he assisted co-defendant Allan Lucas in stealing a case from someone they thought was carrying jewelry but turned out to be a photographer transporting equipment; during this incident Ortega injured the victim while escaping by car. On November 7, 2019, Ortega along with Andres Barahona Poveda and Edwin Castillo robbed a jewelry salesman at his business location for about $125,000 worth of merchandise; Carlos Morales provided logistical support by renting a vehicle under fraudulent documentation.
Ortega pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery as well as two counts of Hobbs Act robbery itself; sentencing is scheduled for May 1 where he faces up to 20 years imprisonment.
Other defendants convicted under Operation Boujee Bandits received sentences ranging from 57 months up to 168 months depending on their roles:
– Allan Lucas: sentenced to 168 months
– Diana Grisales Basto: sentenced to 97 months
– Carlos Morales: sentenced to 60 months
– Giovanni Cardenas (“El Mono”): sentenced to 110 months
– Andres Barahona Poveda: sentenced to 87 months
– Edwin Castillo: sentenced to 108 months
– Demian Gonzalez Contreras: sentenced to 74 months
– Victor Fabian Valenzuela: sentenced to 57 months
– Hernando Rodriguez Mahecha (“Nando”): sentenced to 60 months
– Mark Simon: sentenced to 57 months
The investigation was led by the FBI Tampa Field Office with assistance from several local law enforcement agencies including Miami-Dade Police Department among others.
Prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Dobbins along with Trial Attorneys Lakeita F. Rox-Love and Christopher D. Usher II.
Additional court records can be found at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20272.
