this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2026
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Last month, federal officials allegedly deported one of the suspects in a massive 2022 jewelry heist in Southern California where thieves made off with $100 million in merchandise, in what prosecutors have called the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history.

Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores was sent to Ecuador on or about December 29, according to court documents obtained by The Los Angeles Times. He was believed to be linked to a raid on a Brinks truck that netted a fortune in stolen jewels, gold and watches.

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[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 207 points 5 days ago (3 children)

Fucking LOL. That's amazing.

[–] KingGimpicus@sh.itjust.works 147 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Want to make it better?

Turns out the jewelers intentionally undervalued what was in the truck to avoid paying a high insurance rate. They claimed their goods were only worth about $10m when in reality the actual appraised value was $100m.

Now the jewelers are trying to sue the transportation company (Brinks) for the full value of what was stolen. Brinks, in return, is countersuing the jewelers for breach of contract and fraud.

Honestly hope everyone here loses. Except the guy who self deported. He already won.

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 11 points 4 days ago

I'm okay with the transportation company also not losing. They aren't really in the wrong here IMO.

[–] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 37 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Law enforcement doesn't want you know this simple trick

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 14 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Commit crimes and then leave the country.

[–] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 24 points 5 days ago

If you're an immigrant the US government will even charter a flight for you.

[–] Akasazh@lemmy.world 13 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (3 children)

I'm as happy as anyone in this thread for the 'victims' in this particular crime getting their comeuppance, however:

Jeson Nelson Presilla Flores is a criminal illegal alien from Ecuador whose criminal history includes sexual battery, threatening with intent to terrorize burglary, vandalism, robbery, and more,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Independent

This might be an attempt at smearing the guy, however if true it puts the jolly atmosphere of a 'clever rogue that game the system and got away' that is prominent in this thread in quite a different light.

Imho

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 10 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

~~He got sent to a gulag, I'm sure he's not happy.~~

I stand corrected:

The officials said Flores appeared at an immigration hearing on December 16, where he represented himself, and admitted to the allegations against him then requested voluntary departure.

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[–] Babalugats@feddit.uk 169 points 5 days ago (2 children)

"Anger as suspect in $100M jewelry heist said to be biggest in US history avoids standing trial – because ICE paid for and aided his getaway."

[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 84 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yeah... This guy is probably happy to GTFO

Probably called the feds on himself.

[–] Catma@lemmy.world 31 points 5 days ago

Probably cheaper than paying for a pardon

[–] jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works 135 points 5 days ago (3 children)

The officials said Flores appeared at an immigration hearing on December 16, where he represented himself, and admitted to the allegations against him then requested voluntary departure.

If a bunch of morons offer you a get out of jail free card and a one way ticket to freedomville, you take it.

The prosecutors added they “remain eager to prosecute defendant for his crimes and vindicate his victims” if he returns to the country.

That dude won the jackpot, cashed in his chips, walked out the front door, and he is never coming back.

This whole story couldn't be more ridiculous if it were a Looney Toon's episode.

[–] davidagain@lemmy.world 21 points 5 days ago (5 children)

never coming back

Why wouldn't he return illegally, commit crimes and get himself deported again?

[–] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 30 points 5 days ago

He'd never do that, that would be illegal!

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 23 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It's probably a bit too much of gamble to risk doing it ever again. Deportation is absolutely fine but you don't want to end up in one of their concentration camps.

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 13 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I think that's where the voluntary part comes in. He wasn't fighting it so they just shipped him off. If he'd fight it then it's off to camp while we arrange your hearing (whenever we decide to get around to it).

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[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 6 points 5 days ago

You underestimate the high life you can lead with a modicum of money in South America.

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[–] Furbag@lemmy.world 33 points 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Step 1. Commit ~~crime~~ act of civil service, Luigi-style.

Step 2. Submit yourself to ICE using a false identity for voluntary deportation.

Step 3. Allow the U.S. government to smuggle you out of the country where they no longer have jurisdiction to prosecute you.

Step 4. Laugh as the crypto-fascists get up on stage and boast about how tough on crime they are.

edit: formatting because phones are stupid.

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[–] Zorque@lemmy.world 83 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] rindo25@lemmy.world 32 points 5 days ago

Do I go for the vault? No I take the chandelier, it's priceless.

  • Dwight Schrute
[–] TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca 33 points 5 days ago (5 children)

ICE probably thinks it did its job because the people in it are incapable of thinking that people can have a comfortable life outside of the US, never mind a better one. So basically, they literally helped an immigrant steal $100 million from the US and make away with it because they had an accent and the wrong skin color - which opens up the possibility of just acting like a bad caricature of an immigrant to get free deportations after criminals carry out their crimes.

You get fast-tracked from whatever consequences you would have had to just getting deported, and you didn't even have to bribe Trump with 2 million dollars. Thanks, ICE!

[–] urandom@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago

Nah, ICE will deport innocent people only going forward. The criminals stay in the US!

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[–] expatriado@lemmy.world 56 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

that happens when high quotas are set as Miller did, ice agents will deport no matter what to fulfill

edit: do Maduro next

[–] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 25 points 5 days ago

Lately I've heard a lot of officials say somethimg along the lines "if they come here and start causing problems, we're gonna deport them." but I never hear them say whether or not the problem-causing immigrants are facing justice. prior to being deported.

[–] shittydwarf@piefed.social 33 points 5 days ago (2 children)
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I'm happy for the dude and wish him well

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 30 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

WIth or without the jewelry?

Edit:

Much of the merchandise has not been recovered.

[–] ArmchairAce1944@discuss.online 15 points 5 days ago (4 children)

Holy fuck! 100 million smackers? That's like what Jeff Bozos makes in a gnats's coffee break. But still...

I hope he fucking kept all of it and posts pictures of him smoking cigars and snorting blow off a hooker's boobs while having Batman and Robin playing in the background with Arnie's depiction of Mr. Freeze saying 'Iced to meet you!'

[–] Lucelu2@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 days ago

He will be on a beach somewhere, in some lovely resort... or on a yacht in the bay that he purchased with his ill-gotten gains.

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[–] FilthyShrooms@lemmy.world 24 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It hurt itself in its confusion!

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[–] fullsquare@awful.systems 24 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)
[–] AdolfSchmitler@lemmy.world 16 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I mean they said they wanted to deport criminals lol

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[–] frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io 16 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Justice? No, Just ICE. What did they think would happen when they started targeting courts and going after people just for getting charged with a crime? They already fucked over a bunch of people by pardoning convicted criminals who owed a ton of restitution.

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[–] AlexLost@lemmy.world 15 points 5 days ago

Serious criminals are allowed to just walk away, but poor granny has to be dragged from her home kicking and screaming. Maybe it's not about enforcing laws at all, eh? Start calling a spade a spade and stop dancing to their drum.

[–] Fedizen@lemmy.world 10 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

Gotta fill the quota. Dude probably traded it for bitcoin and can now live large

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 9 points 5 days ago (7 children)

Bitcoin is a transparent ledger. It would be better to trade it for USD, which is main currency for laundering illegal funds, and the currency used by both the US and EC

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[–] NorthoftheBorder@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

Incompetence and cruelty are the hallmarks of this administration.

[–] BigMacHole@sopuli.xyz 13 points 5 days ago

FIRST you Libtards COMPLAINED when we were Shooting Mothers in the Face and Kidnapping Children and NOW You're complaining when we're ACTUALLY Deporting Criminals! There's NO PLEASING YOU!

-Hakeem Jeffries!

[–] Wildmimic@anarchist.nexus 11 points 5 days ago
[–] FartMaster69@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 5 days ago

Sometimes the system works.

Go off, king.

[–] Dojan@pawb.social 13 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Well you know what they say about broken clocks. Good on Jeson, I hope he gets away with it. What a legend.

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