U.S. authorities have arrested two migrants they say are part of a South American “crime tourism” operation that has ravaged from coast to coast, including a brazen daylight robbery at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel that netted a $1 million watch.
Investigators said when they executed a search warrant for the men’s Airbnb, they found a gun once owned by infamous killer cop Christopher Dorner.
The bizarre events unfolded over the last couple of weeks, as authorities say the robbery crew tracked the million-dollar Patek Philippe Emerald Nautilus wristwatch, seeking a chance to snatch it. When they saw the owner with his wife and children sitting outside the Wilshire, where they were staying in Beverly Hills, California, they moved in.
One man flashed a handgun and appeared to chamber a round while another took the watch. The robbery took two seconds.
While hunting the watch, the robbery crew also came across a $30,000 Rolex and stole that, investigators said.
Police stopped two of the men they say were part of the robbery crew as they were on their way to Miami to get their cut from the million-dollar watch.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Jamer Mauricio Sepulveda Salazar is from Colombia and Jesus Eduardo Padron Rojas is from Venezuela. ICE said they are part of the South American Theft Groups, a network of people from South American nations who exploit the U.S. immigration system to enter, go on a string of thefts and robberies, then flee back home.
Investigators said Mr. Sepulveda was the getaway driver for the million-dollar watch robbery, and said both were involved in the Rolex robbery.
Mr. Sepulveda later told investigators he got $1,500 as his cut for the Rolex robbery, according to the affidavit filed in his criminal case.
The two men described their movements across the nation as part of the robbery crew. Mr. Sepulveda said he drove another crew member from New York to Texas to get him away from the heat of investigations for robberies on the East Coast. And he and Mr. Padron were on their way to Miami to meet with that crew member and get their cut of the Patek Philippe robbery.
The appearance of Dorner’s firearm added to the intrigue of the case, though authorities have not said it was the gun used in either watch robbery.
It was the only gun recovered at the Airbnb where the men had been staying.
Dorner was a Los Angeles Police Department officer who went on a killing rampage in 2013, seeking revenge on those he felt cost him his job. He is blamed for killing two police officers and the daughter of a police captain and her fiance.
After a massive search, authorities cornered Dorner in a cabin. The cabin burst into flames and Dorner’s remains were found inside.
Prosecutors are trying to figure out how Dorner’s weapon ended up with the robbery crew.
Immigrant rights advocates say immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally are no more likely to commit crimes — outside of those connected to their status — than native-born or immigrants who are in the U.S. legally.
But the spate of robberies and other crimes attributed to migrants who have arrived during the Biden border surge is challenging that claim.
Federal authorities in court documents said the South American Theft Groups migrants work as crews and “live nomadic lives,” moving between Airbnbs and motels that take cash payments.
“We will not accept violent crime perpetrated by organized crime groups that exploit the freedoms of our country,” said Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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