Suspects Arrested in South American Burglary Ring That Hit Homes of Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes

They Used the Schedule Against Them

Three men accused of burglarizing the homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes have been arrested in Argentina, Chilean and U.S. authorities announced on May 26, 2026. The arrests came after the suspects were apprehended in connection with a separate robbery at the home of retired tennis star Juan Martin del Potro, which led investigators to identify and detain the third man days later.

The Chilean nationals - identified as Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, and Pablo Zuniga Cartes - are wanted in the United States on federal charges. They are expected to be extradited.

How the Ring Operated

According to federal court documents, the group operated as part of what prosecutors describe as a “South American Theft Group” - an organized criminal network that targeted professional athletes across the United States and Argentina between 2024 and 2025.

Their method was precise. Investigators say the crew tracked publicly available team schedules to identify when athletes would be away from home, then entered residences through broken windows or pried-open sliding doors. They approached from wooded areas or dark perimeters to avoid detection.

The Mahomes and Kelce break-ins occurred on October 5 and 7, 2024, respectively - while the Chiefs were traveling for a Monday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints. Both players were on the field when their homes were entered.

What Was Taken

Burglars took roughly $20,000 in cash from Kelce’s home, along with luxury jewelry, a watch, and personal items including his first Super Bowl jersey, according to reporting by ABC News and Fox News. Federal court documents do not itemize what was taken from Mahomes’ residence, but state that combined losses from both homes exceeded $5,000.

The ring did not stop with Kansas City. Prosecutors allege the same group was responsible for the November 2024 burglary of Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis’ home - a crime captured in an iCloud photograph recovered by investigators showing the three suspects posing with a stolen safe and jewelry. The total value of stolen goods across multiple incidents exceeded $2 million, according to federal prosecutors. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and an unidentified Tampa Bay Buccaneers player were also listed among the victims.

A Pattern That Reached Beyond the NFL

Chilean Interpol Commissioner Enrique Gutierrez confirmed the arrests and said the three suspects “will face justice in the United States or Argentina,” noting they had no significant criminal record in Chile. Their operation, he said, was specialized - focused entirely on high-profile targets outside Chilean borders.

For Kelce and Mahomes, the arrests represent the first concrete legal development in a case that began more than 18 months ago. Both players continued to play and practice in the weeks after the break-ins, largely without public comment on the investigation’s progress.

What Happens Next

The three men remain in Chile pending extradition proceedings. A January 2025 federal complaint had already charged seven suspects in connection with the broader ring - the three arrested this week are among that group. The FBI coordinated with Argentine federal police and Chilean authorities in the joint operation that led to their capture.

The case highlights a broader pattern that the NFL addressed with a security advisory in late 2024, warning players and their representatives that organized criminal networks were specifically targeting athletes using publicly known game-day travel schedules. The league encouraged players to review home security arrangements and avoid sharing location information that could aid in identifying vacant residences.

The investigation remains active. Additional suspects named in the federal complaint have not been publicly confirmed as in custody.

References: 3 men wanted in connection with burglaries of US professional athletes | Alleged burglary crew that targeted Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce homes arrested in Argentina | 3 men accused in South American burglary ring targeting Kansas City Chiefs arrested in Argentina