San Diego prosecutors say a five-person crew spent nearly a year hunting FedEx drivers at gunpoint, snatching more than $667,000 in Louis Vuitton merchandise in robberies that rattled delivery routes across the county from July 2024 through June 2025. The alleged haul included 25 boxes taken during a scheduled drop-off at Fashion Valley, along with several carjackings of delivery trucks while drivers stopped to fuel up. Authorities say none of the stolen designer goods have turned up.
Prosecutors Describe a Targeted Luxury Theft Ring
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said the crew violently targeted high-end shipments and grabbed the luxury items with plans to resell them "to unsuspecting customers," according to NBC 7 San Diego. Prosecutors say the case adds up to five separate robberies across the county over roughly a year, all focused on Louis Vuitton deliveries.
Five Defendants, Not-Guilty Pleas and Extraditions
Two of the alleged crew members, Stephen Buck, 30, and Maurice Cyrus, 29, entered not-guilty pleas at a recent arraignment. The other three defendants, Deshawn Birden, 34, Jamal Buck, 33, and Frederick Jackson, 25, are still awaiting extradition to San Diego, according to KGTV. The group is charged with multiple felony counts, including robbery, theft and carjacking.
Luxury Goods Gone, No Trail so Far
Investigators told prosecutors they believe the Louis Vuitton merchandise was destined to be fenced or pushed online, and none of it has been recovered, the DA's office said, according to NBC 7 San Diego. Officials credited the San Diego Police Department and the FBI for teaming up on the case and noted that at least one attempted robbery failed when a delivery driver fought back against an armed suspect.
Delivery Drivers Caught in a Larger Crime Trend
Prosecutors say the case is part of a wider surge in organized retail crime and thefts targeting delivery drivers, who are often loaded with merchandise but work alone. District Attorney Summer Stephan has been pushing for tougher enforcement and last year took that fight to Washington, D.C., to back a federal retail theft bill, KPBS reported.
What Comes Next for the Case
The five defendants face felony charges that prosecutors say could carry sentences ranging from just over seven years behind bars up to life in prison, according to KGTV. Authorities are still working to extradite the three suspects who remain outside the county. The investigation is ongoing, and officials are asking anyone who might know where the missing luxury merchandise ended up to contact law enforcement.
