Seven Southern California men have been charged in what federal prosecutors are calling “the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history.” The suspects are accused of stealing approximately $100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and luxury watches from an armored semitruck leaving an international jewelry show in July 2022. The indictment alleges that the men followed the truck for about 300 miles and stole 24 bags containing one-third of the truck’s load, intending to resell the stolen goods.

The suspects, ranging in age from 31 to 60, are facing federal charges of conspiracy to commit theft and theft from interstate and foreign shipment. Some of the men are also implicated in separate truck robberies earlier in 2022. Two of the accused men have been arrested and pleaded not guilty, while one is serving a sentence in an Arizona state prison. The investigation involved collaboration between the FBI, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and local police departments.

Authorities recovered some of the stolen jewelry during search warrants in mid-June, but the specifics remain undisclosed. The alleged heist involved an elaborate scheme where the men scouted, stole, and resold valuables between March and July 2022. The indictment details multiple incidents, including the meticulous planning of the jewelry theft from the armored truck.

This historic heist is said to be the largest in U.S. history, overshadowing other notable thefts like the “Jewel Heist of the Century” in 1964 and the 1972 Pierre Hotel heist in Manhattan. The investigation into this sophisticated crime involved years of effort and collaboration among law enforcement agencies. The defendants are now awaiting trial, with the case set to unfold in the coming months.