Seven Chilean Nationals, Residential Burglaries, New Jersey 2025

Newark, N.J. – A group of seven Chilean nationals has been charged with conspiring to target homeowners in residential burglaries across multiple states.

Christofer Sanguesa Aguirre, Fabiana Prado Scatarzi, Santana Arturo Castillo Gonzalez, Felipe Andres Del Valle Munoz, Carlos Alfredo Calderon Valencia, Diego Antonio Calderon Leiva, and Pedro Alejandro Salgado Vallejos were each charged with one count of conspiracy to sell and receive stolen property that had crossed state lines and one count of receiving stolen property that had crossed state lines.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the defendants were part of a sophisticated burglary ring that committed multiple residential burglaries in November 2024 in New Jersey and other states.

The alleged burglars stole over $100,000 in valuables, including expensive wristwatches, designer handbags, and cash, from private homes.

The defendants were arrested on January 15, 2025, and are currently being held in federal custody. Sanguesa Aguirre and Castillo Gonzalez appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court, while Del Valle Munoz and Calderon Valencia had their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa L. Fricke in federal court in Tacoma, Washington. Calderon Leiva appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daryl F. Bloom in federal court in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Prado Scatarzi appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol B. Whitehurst in federal court in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Salgado Vallejos appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson in federal court in Boston, Massachusetts.

Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna stated, ‘Residential burglaries have a traumatic and personal impact upon the people whose homes are violated. This office will continue to pursue those who commit these serious crimes.’

The FBI-Newark Special Agent-in-charge Brian J. Driscoll, Jr. added, ‘We allege these men and women ransacked houses here in New Jersey and the East Coast, and then quickly traveled across the country, stealing over $100,000 in valuables from private homes.’

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Port Authority Police, among other agencies.

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