Are Foreign Crime Rings Targeting NFL & NBA Stars – And Is the U.S. Government Turning a Blind Eye?

How safe are America’s biggest sports stars in their own homes?

Are foreign criminals exploiting U.S. visa loopholes to target the rich and famous?

And more importantly — is the U.S. government doing enough to stop them?

Or has a national security program designed to stop terrorism been hijacked by burglars?

Over the past year, a disturbing trend has shaken both the sports world and law enforcement: the homes of NFL and NBA stars like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow, and Bobby Portis Jr. have been burglarized — not by local gangs, but by highly organized foreign crime rings, operating with frightening precision.

What’s worse? Many of these suspects entered the U.S. legally, thanks to a flawed immigration program meant to protect Americans after 9/11. As the scale of these thefts grows, the spotlight now turns to Washington. Is the U.S. government partially to blame?

II. The Crimes: Who Was Targeted and How

These weren’t random burglaries — they were highly organized, professional thefts, specifically targeting wealthy individuals, especially high-profile athletes in the NFL and NBA.

Timeline and Locations:

The break-ins took place across multiple states, including Florida, California, and Ohio. Each incident followed a clear pattern. For example, Joe Burrow’s home in Ohio was hit in December 2024, while Bobby Portis Jr.’s home in Milwaukee was burglarized on November 2.

What Was Stolen:

The thieves didn’t go after small valuables — they stole millions of dollars’ worth of luxury items, including jewelry, cash, designer handbags, high-end luggage, and other exclusive goods.

Modus Operandi:

These weren’t petty criminals. The suspects used advanced technology like Wi-Fi jammers, electronic trackers, surveillance equipment, and fake IDs to carry out their crimes. Each crew was well-trained and structured: some members scoped out the targets, others carried out the break-ins, while others ensured clean getaways. It was precision-level crime.

Impact on Victims:

Aside from the financial losses, the emotional toll was significant. These athletes — already living under the spotlight — experienced a disturbing invasion of their personal space and privacy. For many, it wasn’t just about the stolen goods, but the mental stress of knowing that strangers had infiltrated their homes and lives.

III. Who Are the Perpetrators?

The criminals behind these high-profile burglaries have been identified as organized crime crews from Chile. These weren’t small-time thieves; they were part of international gangs that have carried out similar operations across multiple states.

• Entering the U.S.: What makes these crimes even more shocking is that the suspects entered the United States legally under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which means they didn’t need a visa. The VWP allows citizens from certain countries, like Chile, to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without needing formal documentation.

• High-Tech Crime: The criminals didn’t rely on basic tools — they used advanced techniques to execute their heists. These included Wi-Fi jammers to block security cameras and communication, surveillance equipment to track the movements of their victims, and fake IDs to conceal their true identities.

• Criminal Histories: Some of the suspects weren’t first-time offenders. In fact, several had criminal records in Chile, including serious charges like murder. Despite their violent pasts, they were still able to travel to the U.S., highlighting significant flaws in the vetting process.

IV. The Visa Waiver & ESTA Loophole

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens from specific countries, such as Chile, to enter the United States for up to 90 days without needing a visa. While this system is intended to facilitate tourism and business travel, it has proven to be a vulnerable point, which some criminals have exploited.

How the Criminals Entered and Misused the System:

The persons responsible for the burglaries had entered the U.S. appropriately through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). ESTA is a secure online application process designed to evaluate if someone is a security risk to enter the United States. Unfortunately, these criminals took advantage of this system by entering the U.S. legally and then overstayed their time or misused the privileges given under the Velow Program (VWP) and entered the U.S. generally accepted time limits. This allowed them to extend their stay and remain in the U.S. without suspicion.

ESTA’s Failure:

The ESTA system was meant to identify and flag individuals who may be a security risk, including those with criminal backgrounds. However, it failed in this case due to poor information-sharing between the United States and Chile. As a result, the criminals, some of whom had violent criminal histories, were able to enter and remain in the U.S. without any significant screening or monitoring.

Chile’s History of Non-Compliance:

For nearly eight years, Chile did not fully comply with the information-sharing agreements that are a crucial part of the Visa Waiver Program. This lack of cooperation meant that Chile failed to provide important background checks, such as criminal records, on its citizens who were traveling to the U.S. This gap in the system allowed organized crime groups to exploit the VWP and carry out their operations without detection.

V. Government Oversight and Policy Failure

The recent string of burglaries has prompted criticism from various officials, particularly District Attorney Todd Spitzer, who has raised concerns about the U.S. immigration system’s vulnerability. According to Spitzer, the system is too trusting and too open, which allows criminals to take advantage of its weaknesses.

Lack of Enforcement:

One of the main problems with the process is the lack of proactive enforcement. The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the State Department all knew of these flaws, but did not enact fast enough enforcement measures to stop the criminals from entering or remaining in the U.S. In spite of overwhelming indications of criminal activity, all three departments failed to initiate the proactive or preemptive stance on any of the suspects to prevent them from conducting their operations.

Lack of Real-Time Criminal Background Checks:

Another major disadvantage is the lack of real-time criminal background checks. The ESTA system is heavily dependent on checkboxes and algorithms for determining whether someone is eligible as a traveller. Unfortunately, the automated systems generally are not a adequete assessment of a person’s criminal history, especially if the individual is from a country with poor information-sharing protocols like Chile. Therefore, we have discovered that criminals with violent pasts have passed through.

Even After Known Thefts, Some Suspects Remained at Large:

Even after learning about the burglaries, some of the suspects were still able to stay on the run for months. The lag in identifying and arresting the perpetrators not only demonstrates a disconnect among federal agencies, but also raises questions about the enforcement of the protocols that already exist to regulate immigration and security.

VI. Larger Pattern: “Burglary Tourism” Across the U.S.

The crimes targeting NFL and NBA stars are not just random incidents. They are part of a much bigger trend happening across the United States. Law enforcement has reported that South American gangs have been involved in similar burglaries in all 50 states.

“Burglary Tourism” – A New Term:

Police are now calling this trend “burglary tourism.” It means these criminals travel to the U.S. not for vacation, but to steal from homes, especially in wealthy neighborhoods. They pretend to be tourists, but their real goal is crime.

Weak Borders + Easy Travel = Easy for Criminals:

The U.S. has weak border checks, and once someone enters the country, it’s very easy to move from one state to another. This makes it simple for organized crime groups to plan burglaries across the country without being caught right away.

VII. Diplomatic and Political Pressure

The U.S. government has tried to fix the problem through diplomatic talks. In summer 2023, the U.S. began negotiating with Chile to improve background checks and screening of travelers coming from there.

Chile’s Strategic Importance:

One of the reasons Chile is still in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is because it’s a key U.S. partner, especially in lithium exports, which are important for electric car batteries. This creates a conflict between national security and international trade — should the U.S. protect its borders or protect a valuable trade partner?

Growing Political Pressure:

Despite the diplomatic ties, officials like District Attorney Todd Spitzer are pushing for Chile to be removed from the Visa Waiver Program, just like Argentina was removed in 2002. They argue that public safety should come first, and that allowing easy travel from Chile has created serious risks for American homes and families.

VIII. What Needs to Change

To stop more crimes like these, the U.S. needs to make some urgent changes to how it handles foreign travelers — especially those coming under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Review of Visa Waiver Agreements:

The government should immediately review all countries in the VWP, especially those that aren’t fully cooperating with security rules.

Criminal Background Checks Must Be Mandatory:

Before anyone is approved to travel, their full criminal background should be checked. No one with serious crimes in their past — like theft or murder — should be allowed in.

Penalties for Non-Cooperation:

If a country fails to share accurate criminal data, there should be strict consequences — including removal from the Visa Waiver Program.

Smarter Screening System:

The ESTA system should be upgraded into a more intelligent, real-time vetting tool that can spot risks early — not just rely on a few yes/no questions and computer checks.

IX. Conclusion: Is the U.S. Government to Blame?

Yes — the U.S. government shares a large part of the blame. Weak screening, overtrust in foreign partners, and lack of enforcement allowed these crimes to happen. Until real reforms are made, both celebrities and everyday Americans will stay at risk.