A Colombian national has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for his involvement in a jewelry theft ring that targeted stores and kiosks across the United States. Edixon Rincon Puentes, 45, who last resided in Los Angeles, California, received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport.
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, Rincon Puentes participated with several other Colombian nationals in burglarizing jewelry businesses located in malls from May 2023 through April 2024. The group carried out surveillance before each burglary, posing as customers to assess merchandise and security measures.
Rincon Puentes primarily acted as a lookout and driver. He was directly involved in burglaries at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Connecticut 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 states including New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, New York, Illinois, and Virginia.
The total losses from these crimes exceed $4.4 million. Of that amount, $938,148 is attributed to the three burglaries involving Rincon Puentes.
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 who then distributed it further—including to buyers who melted down the gold.
Rincon Puentes has been detained since July 17, 2024. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy on November 8, 2024.
The investigation was led by the FBI New Haven’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force with assistance from multiple local police departments across several states. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Conor M. Reardon are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan expressed gratitude for support from other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide: “U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida,and FBI Field Offices in New York, Dallas, Miami, and Tampa for their assistance.”
This prosecution falls under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159—Protecting the American People Against Invasion—which focuses on dismantling criminal organizations operating within and outside U.S borders through interagency collaboration.
HSTF New Haven includes personnel from agencies such as FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF and others; prosecutions are managed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Connecticut.
