Two women accused of stealing more than $200,000 in jewelry from a man in Hallandale Beach, Broward County, earlier this month, have surrendered to the police. Lexi Buffaloe (26) and Antonietta Ceccarelli (28) turned themselves in on Tuesday night, while the third suspect, Juliana Cortés (23), surrendered to authorities on Sunday and appeared in court on Monday.
According to the arrest warrant, which was released by the local press, the victim had just won money at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on May 6 and returned to his home in the Golden Isles neighborhood of Hallandale Beach after midnight. Upon arriving home, he realized he was out of Diet Coke and went to a Walgreens located at 1300 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd. There, according to the police, he met "Layla," "Nicki," and "Rose."
Much of the rest of the arrest warrant was redacted, but police stated that the trio struck up a conversation with the man while waiting in line, exchanged numbers, and later called him to come to his house around 3 a.m. The arrest warrant indicates that the trio took the opportunity to scam the man and deprive him of his cash, jewelry, and watch by "exposing their breasts and engaging in sexual behavior among themselves as a distraction."
The watch, according to police, was a special edition James Cameron Rolex valued at $25,000. The police further noted in the arrest warrant that after the women left the residence, the man also realized that his deceased wife's gold ring valued at $100,000, a gold chain worth $68,000, $3,500 in cash, and "various pieces of adult paraphernalia," which were not specified in the warrant, were missing.
However, tracking down the suspects wasn't too complicated. Authorities said they were able to identify the suspects' vehicle, a Range Rover, through a license plate reader installed at the Golden Isles security booth. They also linked the phone number used to contact the victim to Cortés.
The trio faces several charges, including grand theft and fraud. Cortés, charged with first-degree grand theft and fraudulent acquisition of properties worth over $50,000, pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.
Details on the $200,000 Jewelry Theft Case in Hallandale Beach
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the high-profile jewelry theft case in Hallandale Beach, South Florida.
What was the total value of the stolen items?
The total value of the stolen items, including jewelry and cash, was over $200,000.
What items were stolen from the victim?
The stolen items included a James Cameron Rolex watch valued at $25,000, a gold ring valued at $100,000, a gold chain worth $68,000, $3,500 in cash, and various unspecified pieces of adult paraphernalia.
How were the suspects identified?
The suspects were identified through a license plate reader at the Golden Isles security booth and by linking the phone number used to contact the victim to one of the suspects, Juliana Cortés.