A Columbian national has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for her role in a series of thefts of more than $1 million of jewelry at malls in several different states, including one in Connecticut.
Yesenia Melendez Rincon, 41, a citizen of Colombia last residing in Kissimmee, Florida, faced sentencing on Wednesday in federal court in Bridgeport in connection with what officials described as an organized jewelry theft ring, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
Federal officials said her arrest came after an investigation into a series of thefts that occurred at stores and kiosks between May 2023 and April 2024. According to authorities, Melendez Rincon and several other Colombian nationals reportedly participated in the burglaries and then took the stolen goods across state lines.
The burglaries occurred at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, on Oct. 5, 2023, in Lombard, Illinois on Oct. 17, 2023, Hamilton Township, New Jersey, on Oct. 27, 2023, and in Henrico, Virginia on Nov. 4, 2023. The total losses from these burglaries exceed $1.33 million, officials said.
According to federal officials, Melendez Rincon reportedly “cased” the businesses, served as a “lookout” during the burglaries, and was involved in the sale of the stolen jewelry.
A photo taken in January 2024 and retrieved by investigators from Melendez Rincon’s iCloud account reportedly showed her wearing a distinctive heart-shaped ring that was allegedly stolen during the Milford burglary, authorities said.
Investigators also found that Melendez Rincon’s co-conspirators were allegedly involved in the theft of an additional $3.1 million in jewelry from businesses in Paterson, New Jersey, on May 17, 2023, in Mentor, Ohio, on July 21, 2023, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Aug. 13, 2023, in Greece, New York, on Sept. 20, 2023, and in Horseheads, New York, on April 18, 2024.
The alleged thieves also reportedly cased additional jewelry stores and kiosks in Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois and Delaware, according to authorities.
As of Thursday, officials said, none of the stolen jewelry had been recovered.
Melendez Rincon was arrested on July 18, 2024. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy on July 1.
