A man pleaded guilty April 2 to stealing jewelry and other items from a luxury hotel in Beverly Hills, then traveling to Florida to sell them, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
Jobson Marangoni De Castro, 38, of Beverly Hills faces up to 10 years in prison for the felony of interstate transportation of stolen property.
The thefts occurred May 10, 2023, when De Castro took an Uber to the hotel and stole six suitcases from a pair of travelers after tricking an employee into giving him a key to the victims’ room while they were away having dinner, according to the statement.
The two victims, both Brazil residents, found their suitcases were missing when they returned, and hotel staff notified law enforcement.
The suitcases contained around $1.8 million in jewelry and other goods, prosecutors said.
About a week later, De Castro sold a luxury watch and a diamond necklace to a buyer in Miami for $50,000, saying they belonged to his late mother, the statement said.
De Castro was arrested in August 2023 at Los Angeles International Airport and has been in custody since.
A hearing to determine the loss amount has been scheduled for April 30 and a sentencing hearing will follow, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Some of the stolen jewelry. (U.S. Attorney’s Office)
