LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Following a series of high-profile heists that shocked Los Angeles' elite and celebrities, a notorious thief with a penchant for targeting the homes of the city's wealthiest residents, was convicted on Wednesday, September 13, of a series of audacious burglaries that spanned from December 2016 to July 2018.
Benjamin Ackerman's conviction
Benjamin Ackerman, who lived in infamy for his high-profile heists, now faces the grim prospect of decades behind bars as he awaits sentencing next month.
The culmination of years of painstaking investigation and a relentless pursuit of justice, Ackerman was finally convicted in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
A jury found him guilty of multiple burglary charges, underlining the extent of his criminal activities that had long terrorized the city's affluent neighborhoods, according to the Daily Mail.
Judge Mark Arnold, presiding over the case, wasted no time in revoking Ackerman's bail, ensuring that the criminal was immediately escorted to the confines of the Los Angeles Men's Central Jail.
Ackerman's nefarious exploits included the theft of an estimated $5.5 million worth of jewelry, designer purses, shoes, and priceless art from the opulent mansions of some of LA's most prominent figures.
Among his unfortunate victims were renowned individuals such as Usher, Adam Lambert, and Real Housewife Dorit Kemsley, all of whom fell prey to Ackerman's calculated heists.
To evade the full brunt of the law, Ackerman had previously pleaded no contest to stealing from these high-profile homes, a tactic that ultimately proved futile in the face of mounting evidence.
The turning point in Ackerman's criminal saga occurred in January 2019 when law enforcement finally caught up with the notorious burglar.
During his arrest, police uncovered a staggering stash of over 2,000 stolen items hidden in his residence and a rented storage unit.
Among the haul, one Beverly Hills mansion had borne the brunt of Ackerman's audacity, with a shocking 150 luxury items pilfered, amounting to an eye-watering $2.5 million in losses for the unfortunate homeowner.
Benjamin Ackerman's legal battles and accomplices
Ackerman's legal woes extended beyond his initial plea.
While he had previously pleaded no contest to stealing from the homes of Usher, Adam Lambert, and Dorit Kemsley, he pleaded not guilty to three other counts, including a 2017 break-in at former NFL player Shaun Phillips' home.
Ackerman's alleged partner-in-crime, realtor Jason Yaselli, was accused of aiding and abetting in these criminal endeavors, although the status of Yaselli's criminal case remained unclear at the time of Ackerman's conviction.
The extent of Ackerman's criminality became fully apparent when he pleaded no contest to a staggering array of charges, including 11 counts of residential burglary, 28 counts of money laundering, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Ackerman's legal team conceded that their client had "accepted responsibility for what he did," a grim acknowledgment of the depth of his criminality. These charges, collectively, carried a potential sentence of up to 45 years behind bars, according to the Daily Mail.
Prosecutors presented compelling evidence that indicated Yaselli had encouraged Ackerman to steal items from 14 homes, sell them, and use the ill-gotten proceeds to pay off Yaselli's credit card debt.
The prosecution revealed that Ackerman routinely deposited substantial sums, ranging from $5,500 to $20,000, into Yaselli's account each month as part of this elaborate scheme.
Detective Jared Timmons of the LAPD shed light on Ackerman's modus operandi, revealing that the crafty thief posed as a realtor to gain access to the targeted homes.
Timmons noted, "When he showed up, he was dressed to the nines. He acted the part. He was very slick," highlighting Ackerman's cunning ability to blend seamlessly into his surroundings.
Who were Benjamin Ackerman's victims?
Ackerman set his sights on musician Adam Lambert's lavish three-bedroom, 3,049-square-foot home, perched above the iconic Sunset Strip.
The property had recently been listed for a staggering $3.35 million, and Ackerman exploited this opportunity by repeatedly infiltrating the residence to make off with high-end luxury goods.
What was particularly unsettling about Ackerman's crimes was that many victims were blissfully unaware of the break-ins, discovering the theft of their prized possessions months later.
Paradigm Talent Agency boss Michael Gores, former Vanity Fair editor Punch Hutton, and Logitech entertainment and talents boss Linna Stalberg were among the unfortunate individuals who suffered significant losses at the hands of these devious thieves.
During the course of their investigation, law enforcement authorities uncovered surveillance videos that had been tampered with, and security cameras that had been forcibly disabled. Detective Timmons noted, "Cameras would simply go black until several hours after the burglary occurred."
The climax of this criminal saga arrived in September 2018 when a dozen LAPD officers raided Ackerman's residence, revealing a sophisticated 15-camera indoor-outdoor surveillance system.
The operation necessitated the involvement of a helicopter and tactical team to apprehend one of the masterminds behind this audacious criminal enterprise.
Benjamin Ackerman's stolen treasure trove
The inventory of stolen riches discovered within the thief's lair was staggering.
Designer clothing was meticulously organized by brand, boasting illustrious names like Balenciaga, Chanel, Fendi, Givenchy, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton. Handbags worth a small fortune, including some valued at $100,000 each, were found.
The cache also contained high-end accessories such as Goyard wallets and an array of luxury watches, including Cartier, Patek Phillipe, and Rolex timepieces.
Among the stolen items were diamond-encrusted Gucci hair clips and hundreds of bottles of exquisite, expensive wine.
The criminal duo, Yaselli and Ackerman, reportedly scoured online real estate listings to identify their targets.
Although the specifics of their initial connection remain murky, correspondences between them revealed a consistent dialogue focused on amassing wealth through illicit means.
