JERSEY SCORE
Brady gear stolen at Super Bowl found in Mexico
TOM BRADY’S stolen Super Bowl jersey was smuggled across the border by a Mexican newspaper editor — and recovered in Mexico with the help of the FBI, officials said Monday.
Mauricio Ortega, who worked for the Mexican tabloid La Prensa, allegedly stole the New England Patriots quarterback’s No. 12 jersey last month at Super Bowl LI in Houston — and another Brady jersey two years ago.
Federal charges against Ortega are pending in the U.S.
“Our investigators developed information from an informant here in Houston that led them to Mexico,” said Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo. “As a result of that investigation, we were able to work with the FBI and Mexican authorities to respond to the suspect’s known location and look for the jersey.”
Acevedo did not specify where in Mexico the suspect was found or whether he’d been extradited.
The U.S. has an extradition agreement with Mexico, with the treaty listing larceny of goods of $25 or more.
Fox Sports, which first reported the story, released video Monday from the Patriots locker room following the team’s overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons that authorities used to track down the suspect. Ortega — wearing a backpack with a credential tag dangling from his neck — can be seen entering the locker room behind Patriots coach Bill Belichick. He’s carrying an object underneath his arm as he heads toward the exit, the video shows. The jersey could be worth as much as $500,000 at auction. The Mexican sports website Maximo Avance says Ortega is an avid collector of NFL memorabilia who’s been spotted at auctions. The NFL confirmed the jersey was found, adding authorities also discovered another lost item belonging to Brady. “Through the cooperation of the NFL and New England Patriots’ security teams, the FBI and other law enforcement authorities, the Super Bowl LI jersey worn last month by MVP Tom Brady has been recovered,” the league said.
“Also retrieved during the ongoing investigation was the jersey Brady wore in the Patriots’ victory in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks in 2015.”
Brady told the Daily News’ Gary Myers he plans to give the Super Bowl LI jersey to his mother, who has been battling cancer. Acevedo said that both jerseys are now in the hands of the NFL and are being authenticated in Boston. Fox Sports added the Denver Broncos also believe the culprit may have stolen Von Miller’s missing jersey and cleats after Super Bowl 50 at MetLife Stadium.