By Sean Ridgway & Daniel Schwartz, TME

A key suspect in the 2022 Flying J jewelry heist, believed to be the largest in U.S. history, was deported to Ecuador in late December 2025, halting his federal prosecution…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Bottom left: Some of the stolen jewels; Bottom right: Brinks security guards open the back of the semi-truck that stored the stolen jewelry

Top Right: Image from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website; Middle: The Flying J in Lebec, CA where the heist took place in 2022

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This is part of the January 30, 2026 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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