Miami, Florida – In a case that’s been months in the making, the last member of a notorious Colombian robbery crew was sentenced to 57 months in prison for his role in a string of high-end jewelry heists. Leroy Ortega, 43, of Miami, was handed down the sentence on May 1, 2026, marking the final chapter in Operation Boujee Bandits, a sprawling investigation that targeted a South American theft group operating in South Florida.
According to court documents, Ortega was part of a crew that targeted jewelry salespersons throughout the region, using a combination of force and deception to steal millions of dollars’ worth of merchandise. The group, which was active from September 2019 to July 2021, rented vehicles using fake IDs to follow their victims, often targeting individuals who were transporting high-end jewelry from the International Jewelry Exchanges or the Seybold Jewelry Building.
The investigation, which resulted in three indictments and an information, uncovered a complex web of money laundering activity and robberies that left a trail of destruction in its wake. In total, the crew’s heists resulted in losses exceeding $5 million.
Ortega’s sentence brings to a close a case that has been ongoing for years, with 10 other defendants already having been sentenced as part of the operation. The investigation was a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, and local authorities.
As the last member of the crew to be sentenced, Ortega’s case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of transnational crime on communities and the importance of continued cooperation between law enforcement agencies to bring these perpetrators to justice.
Source: Department of Justice
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