A Colombian national has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for her role in a nationwide jewelry theft ring that targeted mall-based stores and kiosks across the United States. Yesenia Melendez Rincon, 41, who last lived in Kissimmee, Florida, received her sentence from U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport.
According to court records and statements made during proceedings, Melendez Rincon and several other Colombian nationals participated in burglaries of jewelry stores and kiosks between May 2023 and April 2024. The group transported stolen property or its proceeds across state lines after committing the thefts. Specific incidents involving Melendez Rincon occurred at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Connecticut; Lombard, Illinois; Hamilton Township, New Jersey; and Henrico, Virginia. Losses from these burglaries exceeded $1.33 million.
Authorities said Melendez Rincon’s role included casing businesses before they were targeted, acting as a lookout during burglaries, and participating in selling stolen jewelry to others. A photograph found on her iCloud account showed her wearing a heart-shaped ring taken during the October 2023 burglary in Milford.
Investigators determined that co-conspirators stole an additional $3.1 million worth of jewelry from establishments in Paterson, New Jersey; Mentor, Ohio; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Greece, New York; and Horseheads, New York between May 2023 and April 2024. The group also scouted additional locations in Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Delaware.
Law enforcement has not recovered any of the stolen jewelry.
Melendez Rincon was arrested on July 18, 2024. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy on July 1, 2025. After being released pending sentencing, she was remanded into custody following the hearing and will face immigration proceedings upon completing her prison term.
The investigation involved the FBI New Haven’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force with support from multiple police departments across several states including Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, New York, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois as well as assistance from various FBI field offices.
“This investigation is being conducted by the FBI New Haven’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force with the assistance of the Milford (Conn.) Police Department, the Hamilton Township (N.J.) Police Division, the Delaware State Police, the Henrico County (Va.) Police Division, the New York State Police, the New York Police Department, the Pensacola (Fla.) Police Department, the Paterson (N.J.) Police Department, the Mentor (Ohio) Police Department ,the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Police Department ,the Greece (N.Y.) Police Department ,and the Lombard (Ill.) Police Department,” according to prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan expressed appreciation for help provided by other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and FBI field offices: “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 the FBI Field Offices in New York,Dallas ,Miami,and Tampa for their assistance.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Conor M. Reardon.
