A Colombian national has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for his role in a jewelry theft ring that targeted stores and kiosks across the United States. Edixon Rincon Puentes, 45, who last lived in Los Angeles, California, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport.
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, Rincon Puentes was involved with several other Colombian nationals in burglarizing jewelry stores and kiosks located in malls throughout Connecticut and other states between May 2023 and April 2024. The group conducted surveillance before each burglary, posing as customers to examine merchandise and assess security measures.
Rincon Puentes primarily acted as a lookout and driver during the crimes. He participated directly in burglaries at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford on October 5, 2023; Hamilton Township, New Jersey on October 27, 2023; and Henrico, Virginia on November 4, 2023. Other members of the conspiracy committed additional burglaries in New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, New York, Illinois, and Virginia.
The total losses from these incidents exceed $4.4 million. The three burglaries involving Rincon Puentes accounted for $938,148 of those losses.
Law enforcement has not recovered any of the stolen jewelry so far. Investigators found that much of it was sold to a jewelry store owner in Queens, New York. That individual then resold items to others who melted down the gold.
Rincon Puentes has been detained since July 17, 2024. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy on November 8 of that year.
The FBI’s New Haven Transnational Organized Crime Task Force led the investigation with help from multiple police departments across several states including Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, New York, Florida, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Conor M. Reardon are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan acknowledged support from other U.S Attorney’s Offices—including those for Middle District of Florida and Southern District of Florida—and FBI field offices based in New York City; Dallas; Miami; and Tampa.
“This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159,” according to officials with Sullivan’s office. “The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels…and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.” The statement added: “Through historic interagency collaboration…the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying…and prosecuting…these organizations.”
HSTF New Haven includes agents from federal agencies such as FBI; DEA; HSI; ATF; U.S Postal Inspection Service; IRS Criminal Investigation Division; Department of Labor; as well as Connecticut State Police.