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Prosecutors stunned as ICE lets suspect in $100m jewelry heist leave US
theguardian ^

Posted on 02/07/2026 9:44:43 PM PST by algore

Federal immigration authorities allowed a suspect in a $100m jewelry heist believed to be the largest in US history to deport himself to South America in December, a move that stunned and upset prosecutors who were planning to try the case and send him to prison.

Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores was one of seven people charged last year with stalking an armored truck to a rural freeway rest stop north of Los Angeles and stealing millions worth of diamonds, emeralds, gold, rubies and designer watches in 2022.

Flores faced up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit theft from interstate and foreign shipment and theft from interstate and foreign shipment. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported Flores in late December after he requested voluntary departure, prosecutors said in court filings.

Flores’s attorney, John D Robertson, motioned to dismiss the indictment against his client, asking for the charges to be permanently dropped and the case closed.

Federal prosecutors oppose the motion and say they still hope to bring Flores to trial, asking for charges to be dropped “without prejudice” to keep the door open for criminal prosecution in the future.

Despite Flores being a lawful permanent resident and released on bail, he was taken into ICE custody in September, according to court filings from his defense attorneys. Federal prosecutors say they were unaware Flores had an immigration detainer.

This was a violation of his criminal prosecution rights and warrants his case getting dismissed, Robertson said in his motion.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: crime; fakenews; grauniad; ice; judgewatch

1 posted on 02/07/2026 9:44:43 PM PST by algore
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To: algore

Money talks and bullshit walks. Why are you surprised?


2 posted on 02/07/2026 10:04:36 PM PST by sport
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To: algore

That’s what the raggedy ass Feral judges want. ICE has no say in what happens to these foreign criminals anymore. Those decisions now belong to former illegal aliens and refugee Dipstick Court “judges”, not Americans. We don’t have a say in our country anymore. It belongs to the illegal alien invaders and their dumbass Olympics team now.


3 posted on 02/07/2026 10:09:25 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (I'm boycotting the U.S. Illegal Alien Olympics team. I don't want them morons representing me.)
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To: All

I’m guessing that the judge and the lawyers on ‘both sides’ got ‘their share’ of the loot.

No point in checking their bank accounts.... But I wish someone would check their wrists and their wives’ / girlfriends’ jewelery boxes.


4 posted on 02/07/2026 10:43:46 PM PST by LegendHasIt
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To: algore

Good move. Flores is now in a massive prison called Ecuador, one without bars. And he’ll be on the run from gangs looking for a piece of his score from the heist. Because the one thing criminals love to do is rob other criminals. These victims often can’t file a police report, for fear of self-incrimination.


5 posted on 02/08/2026 12:50:35 AM PST by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room)
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To: Zhang Fei
These victims often can’t file a police report, for fear of self-incrimination.

Reminds of the U.S. news story of a meth user calling the cops because he was sold fake meth.
6 posted on 02/08/2026 3:10:09 AM PST by know.your.why
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To: algore

I smell a bribe or the problem with states not communicating with the federal government. hard to know with sanctuary cities


7 posted on 02/08/2026 3:15:08 AM PST by PCPOET7 (`)
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To: algore

This should be a death penalty offense, as it is in China.


8 posted on 02/08/2026 3:47:32 AM PST by montag813
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To: know.your.why

Do you not realize how disappointing it is to use your hard earned welfare/snap money for meth and get cheated. It should be a crime to sell fake drugs.


9 posted on 02/08/2026 4:55:18 AM PST by BipolarBob (Homer: A doughnut in each hand is a balanced diet.)
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To: algore

Wonder who ended up with the jewelry ?.


10 posted on 02/08/2026 5:53:06 AM PST by Vaduz (NEVER TRUST A DEMOCRAT)
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To: algore

The victims reported more than $100 million in losses, but Brink’s said the stolen items were worth under $10 million.

According to a lawsuit filed by the security company, one of the drivers was asleep inside the vehicle and the other was grabbing food inside the rest stop when the thieves broke in.


11 posted on 02/08/2026 5:57:48 AM PST by OldHarbor
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To: know.your.why

[Reminds of the U.S. news story of a meth user calling the cops because he was sold fake meth.]


Worse than that. In Ecuador, he has to worry about the cops either torturing him to get the cash for themselves, or being on gang payrolls. Either way, he dies a lingering death. This is why the US is a haven for foreign crooks. Both criminals and cops in the US are so much more civilized. At minimum, they don’t have to worry about their families getting bumped off.


12 posted on 02/08/2026 8:00:08 AM PST by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room)
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To: algore

I wonder what his bail amount was.


13 posted on 02/08/2026 9:32:37 AM PST by algore
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