A man facing federal charges in what authorities have called the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history was deported to Ecuador late last month, bringing the case against him to a crashing halt, according to recent court filings. While it’s not unusual for someone to be deported as they face pending criminal charges, the magnitude of the crime raises questions about what unfolded. Robertson argued that the government had chosen to forgo Flores’ criminal prosecution. Federal prosecutors disagreed, indicating they were caught unawares by his removal and still hoped to bring Flores to trial — if he ever returns to the U.S. But as federal prosecutors pointed out in their motion, if convicted Flores could have still been deported after serving a lengthy sentence in prison.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 22, 2026 13:34 UTC