Politics & Government
Pro Football+Basketball Players Security Alert Due to Crime Syndicate
Bethany Blankley: 'NFL issued security alert to players after players' homes were burglarized allegedly by a South American crime syndicate'
From The Center Square to this writer for MHProNews and this Patch in Part I which will be followed by additional information in Part II.
Part I
NFL issues security alert to players as South American crime syndicate targets homes
Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – The National Football League has issued a security alert to players after players’ homes were burglarized allegedly by a South American crime syndicate,
NFL.com reported.
The NFL security alert was issued after a crime spree was reported spanning a few weeks in which NBA and NFL players were targeted, according to multiple news reports.
Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
It was also issued after law enforcement officials over the past year increasingly reported crimes committed by South American theft groups (SATG) primarily run by Columbian and Chilean nationals who either illegally entered the U.S. or exploited a visa program, The Center Square reported.
Among the high profile athletes whose homes were targeted were Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in the Kansas City area, TMZ reported.
In Minnesota, the home of former Vikings player Linval Joseph, who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys, was among several broken into in a suburban community. The burglaries were part of “what is believed to be connected to a string of crimes targeting affluent homes of professional athletes around the country,” Sports Illustrated reported.
NBA Minnesota Timberwolves player Mike Conley’s home was also burglarized in October, one of three homes burglarized on the same night, Sports Illustrated reported. The homes were unoccupied and the thieves “gained by breaking out windows on the rear of the residences. In all three burglaries there was jewelry taken from the master bedroom areas," according to the Medina Police Department.
It also said, "We are aware of some of the other athletes in different states that have had their homes burglarized. Our investigator is working with those agencies and other state and federal partners,” NBC News reported.
Also in Minnesota, the Orono Police Department issued a security alert saying police departments in the area were receiving reports of multiple burglaries. "It is believed the suspects are not choosing houses at random and are watching them carefully prior to burglarizing them," it said.
It also issued an advisory to residents to implement additional security measures, including installing security alarms, cameras and lights, linked to their cell phones and notifying the police department when they leave for an extended period of time, among other precautions.
In Wisconsin, Milwaukee Bucks player Bobby Portis said his home was also robbed. He posted surveillance video of the theft and offered a reward for anyone that helps find his stolen items.
“I consider Milwaukee my home,” he said in an Instagram post. “Unfortunately, last night while I was at work, my home was broken into and burglarized. Many of my prized possessions were stolen. I’ve worked hard to do good in the Milwaukee community and I hope you all can help do the same by sending any tips regarding this crime to: info@bobbyportis.com. Any information that directly leads to catching the criminals involved or return of my property will be rewarded.”
Authorities said the athletes’ homes were targeted when they were playing games. Public records are believed to have been used to find their homes; extensive surveillance was used to know when they were gone, including following their game schedules and social media posts, authorities have said.
Targeting high profile athletes appears to be a newer method employed by SATG members.
Last year, investigations were launched after high-net-worth individuals were targeted in residential neighborhoods in California, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, the District of Columbia and other locations, The Center Square reported.
Colombian and Chilean nationals who were arrested for the crimes have either illegally entered the U.S. or exploited a visa waiver program to get into the U.S., Dan Heath, a supervisory special agent with the FBI's criminal investigations division, told the Washington Post. "They represent an enormous threat … in our country."
The pattern appears to be the same in jurisdictions where the burglaries have occurred as described by one Tennessee police chief: “These suspects are believed to be part of a group that comes to this country specifically to commit crimes in areas where there are large homes. They're very coordinated, they rotate people in and out of the country, and they change locations so they're not here long."
U.S. House Republicans also held hearings to address the SATG-related crime surge as the border crises worsened under the Biden administration. At the time, more than 10 million illegal border crossers were reported, the greatest number in U.S. history, The Center Square reported.
That number has since surpassed 14 million, The Center Square reported. Among them were nearly 500,000 Colombians, The Center Square reported.
---
Part II
On Oct 17, 2024, the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) announced "Operation Autumn Sweep" resulted in 157 arrests, and three other suspects for soliciting children online. Per their website: "During a five-day-long undercover human trafficking operation, which began on October 2, 2024, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit arrested 157 suspects involved in illegal acts related to soliciting prostitutes, offering to commit prostitution, or aiding and abetting prostitutes. Three other suspects were arrested for traveling to sexually batter juveniles."
"The approach of Hurricane Milton caused us to end our investigation earlier than planned, but it’s still amazing that in such a short amount of time we were able to put 157 people in jail, and three child predators. Sixteen percent of the suspects we arrested are here illegally, but were offered free medical, food, travel, and housing, compliments of the U.S. taxpayers – meanwhile hurricane victims are still waiting, and praying for help." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
Those who may have been led to believe that illegal immigration is compasionate or not that big a deal may be victims too without realizing it. Some (not all) involved in big media, big tech and the Biden-Harris (D) regime often either ignored or downplayed the costs and harms from illegal immigration.
As one example: "Using the National Academies’ estimate of immigrants’ net fiscal impact by education level, we estimate that the lifetime fiscal drain (taxes paid minus costs) for each illegal
immigrant is about $68,000, although this estimate comes with some caveats." So said
Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research, Center for Immigration Studies in testimony to the U.S. House on January 11, 2024.
According to Andrew Arthur, “Biden’s Border Fiasco Costing Local Taxpayers Billions,” The Center for Immigration Studies, May 4, 2023, https://cis.org/Arthur/Bidens–Border–Fiasco–Costing–Local–Taxpayers–Billions; "the annual cost just to care for and house the known gotaways and illegal aliens who have been released into the country under [Biden-Harris DHS Secretary Alejandro] Mayorkas’ leadership could cost as much as an astounding $451 billion."
We should all thank God that the President-elect is Donald J. Trump and that the next Vice President of the United States will be J.D. Vance (currently OH-Senator-R). There is bound to be legal, media, and other drama once deportations begin. But it is necessary for the safety of our citizens and for those who risk crossing into the U.S. illegally.
Housing will likely open up as a result of deportations, which may help renters and home buyers. Information from the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) on related topics are found in the article linked below.
https://patch.com/florida/lake...
Yes, Carter is correct in thinking that some workers will be displaced through that process. But U.S. born citizens and those who came to the U.S. legally are likely to see their wages rise naturally as illegal immigrant deportations occur. Most Americans, per surveys, approve of Trump's mass deportation plan.
https://patch.com/florida/lake...
So, not only everyday Americans, but also higher earners like professional athletes are impacted by illegal immigration. Perhaps the most important job of good government is to protect its own citizens.
There is a lot of work to do to clean up the corruption that has been allowed to fester for too long in American government. More on this and other economic, political, spiritual, social and infotainment topics follow.
---
> Bethany Blankley-Northern Border Terrorist-Related Arrests Soar
> Shock! Real Life Version of 'Minority Report' Right Here in Florida
> After Hunter Biden Pardon, Trump Vows Pardoning Many Jan. 6 Protesters
> HUD Nom Scott Turner Asked to Fix Affordable Housing Law Enforcement = 'Sabotage' Tactics Used Against Manufactured Housing per Fed Researchers; Latest on Mobile Homes; new Manufactured Housing Data per Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR).
--
> Hunter Biden Pardon by Joe Biden-What Other Media Often Overlooked
> Trillion$ Lost - Pentagon Fails Audit Again - Facts & Analysis
> Properly Exposing Corruption is the Start of Rooting Out Corruption
> Attorney John Morgan - Democrat Megadonor on Kamala Harris Campaign
> USA Today - David Plouffe and Dem Advisers on Kamala Harris Revelation
--- Songs, music videos and lyrics ---
> The Rose - Bette Midler - Music Video - Behind the Scenes Insights
> Frank Sinatra - Someone To Watch Over Me (Remastered) - Old Blue Eyes
> 'Send In the Clowns' - Judy Collins, Frank Sinatra - Lyrics & Meaning
---movies and videos to spark thought and inspire ---
> POWER: Movie Buffs –Fictional Insights Into How Real Politicos Operate
> The Creepy Line-Peter Schweizer-Dr. Jordan Peterson-Dr. Robert Epstein
> Movie Buffs – Movie Classic - “Enemy of the State” – Lessons Learned
--- The backstory to big business scandals, political, economic, housing, and more subjects ---
> Stunning. Tracking Endowments to Top U.S. College and Universities
> Neighbors and Fellow Americans-You Could be Guilty of 3 Felonies a Day
---
> Niskanen Center Praises Manufactured Home ‘Cost Savings’ and ‘Quality’
> Investopedia on Housing plus Manufactured Housing Assoc US Production
---
> Thanking God and Promising a Golden Age for USA and National Healing
> Life Boils Down to Time, Risks, Rewards, Opportunities and Choices
> Top 10 States for Homelessness & Top Cities for Crime=Shocking Lessons
> Why do Liars Lie? Why do those Engaged in Paltering and Spin Palter?
> Controversy-Manufactured Housing Institute-Lesli Gooch-Mark Bowersox
--> Realtor-What Is a Manufactured Home? The Next Step Beyond Mobile Homes
- > Orlando RE Agent Smith-Younger Adults Will Need $8500 Monthly for Rent
- > Blankley-Goodbye American Dream? Only 10% Polled Can Buy a House; But
- > Frank Rolfe-Special Interests ‘Don’t Want to Solve Affordable Housing'
- > TARK-‘I’m a Teen and Know the Solution to Affordable Housing Crisis’
- ---> Renting? Rent too High? Odds Are DOJ Suit vs RealPage Matters to You
- > New-Certified “Half Price Homes” - Affordable Housing Solution Redux
- > Solution: “Would-Be Homebuyers Need 80% More Income Than 4 Years Ago”
---> L. A. “Tony” Kovach is a publisher who has earned multiple awards in history. He and his family live in a manufactured home on private property in Winter Haven, FL. He is the co-founder of Manufactured Home Living News.com (MHLivingNews.com) and Manufactured Home Pro News.com (MHProNews.com), trade publications serving segments of the manufactured home industry. Having worked in several segments of the manufactured home industry for over 3 decades, Kovach is a widely acknowledged and often praised expert on manufactured housing. ###
