A suspect involved in what is believed to be the biggest jewelry theft in U.S. history may have fled Scotland by being deported to Ecuador.
Jason Neron Prescilla Flores is one of seven individuals alleged to have orchestrated a daring heist that took $100 million from a Brinks truck at the Flying J Travel Center in Lebec, California, back in July 2022.
According to prosecutors, the group aimed for trucks filled with gold, diamonds, and luxury watches, executing the theft in broad daylight as the trucks traveled between exhibitions.
The indictment claims the thieves tracked the truck over 300 miles from Northern California to a rest area north of Los Angeles.
Flores was released on bail in August but was soon taken into custody by federal immigration authorities.
If found guilty, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison, though he has consistently claimed he is innocent.
In an unexpected turn, while in ICE custody, he opted for deportation in late December, a move that effectively eliminates the ongoing case against him.
His attorney, John D. Robertson, discovered the deportation details in early January and subsequently filed a motion to dismiss the charges, arguing that the government chose not to prosecute.
In his motion dated January 15, Robertson stated that “the government has chosen not to prosecute him criminally.”
However, federal prosecutors expressed surprise over the situation.
In a court filing, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Butler and Jenna McCabe said they were unaware that Flores would be deported while the case was still active, suggesting he waived his right to a trial to avoid felony charges.
They contended that the criminal case should not simply vanish because Flores left the country.
Attorney Jerry Kroll, representing some jewelers affected by the theft, noted, “When defendants in federal grand theft cases leave the country before trial, victims are left without answers, judgment, or closure.”
Kroll further stated, “For our customers, the jewelers who lost their life’s work, this outcome exposes gaps in a system that demands transparency.”
Should Flores return to the United States, he could face charges again.
Attempts to reach Robertson for comments were unsuccessful.
