The Bling Ring’s mugshots. The top two mugshots are Diana Tamayo and Alexis Neiers. The middle shows Rachel Lee. The bottom two pictures show Nick Prugo and Courtney Ames.

One of my favorite cases that took place in California is the Bling Ring. It’s essentially the most 2000s crime to ever take place; it involves burglary, drugs, and Paris Hilton.

Let’s meet the infamous “Bling Ring”, shall we?

The main culprit is Indian Hill Alternative High School student, Rachel Lee. Rachel Lee was the “driving force” of the crew (Sales, 2010). She is said to have an infatuation with celebrities and luxury items, which ironically is how she befriended the rest of the crew using similar interests. The group consisted of Nick Prugo (who met Rachel while at Indian Hills), Alexis Neiers, Diana Tamayo (also at Indian Hills), were the main culprits. Johnny Ajar, Courtney Ames (friend of Rachel Lee), Jonathan Ajar or “Jonnie Dangerous” (Courtney’s boyfriend), and Ray Lopez (co-worker of Courtney) were involved, just not as heavily (Levine, S., & Murphy D, 2019). 

How did the group even find celebrities’ homes?

Well, they used the internet. The group was able to use social media outlets, specifically TMZ, to determine when the resident would not be home. They then used websites like Celebrityaddressaerial.com to find their homes and the security systems around the home.

Let’s get a brief timeline of the Bling Ring’s spree.

 

October 2008: Paris Hilton (Several times)

The group simply hopped a fence and walked onto Hilton’s property. In this incident, the group found a key under the doormat and walked in. The group would return to Hilton’s house multiple times and would take various items (like cash, bags, clothing, etc.) each time they went. Prugo and Lee were at this first robbery, Lopez and Ames were present in later visits to the home.

February 2009: Audriana Patridge

Again, Prugo and Lee were the only figures caught on camera. The two took about $43,000 worth of items like jewelry, clothing, technology, etc). The two used the same process of using news outlets to know when the house would be empty, and then they would look for unlocked doors. Prugo developed a drug addiction during this time as well, only fueling the desire to steal. Lee was known to take various substances (alcohol cocaine primarily).

July 13, 2009: Orlando Bloom

This is when the group expanded. Neiers, Tamayo, Prugo, and Lee were all present for this crime and were drunk during the crime.

August 23, 2009: Lindsay Lohan

This was Lee’s ultimate accomplishment, as Lohan was Rachel’s idol. Prugo, Lee, and Tamayo stole about $130,000 worth of clothes and jewelry. Three days later, the L.A.P.D released surveillance footage of the group, which led to the connection to other burglaries and their arrest.

September- October 2009:

Prugo was the first to be arrested in mid-September. When he was arrested, he told the police everything (including crimes the police were not aware could be connected to them, and crimes that were not reported). The group was arrested slowly, but surely. Most of the group pled guilty in court and were let out of their sentences early (Goldstein, 2013).

October 2009- Present:

Now, all of the culprits have turned their lives around. Those who needed help for addiction problems were able to get the help they needed. All of the Bling Ring has stayed off of social media generally. They have stayed out of prison.

 

This case is fascinating to me. It’s so interesting to see how these kids were able to commit these crimes using technology and get away with it for several months. It’s great that no one was physically hurt (most of whom didn’t even notice they were robbed), and that the thieves were caught and reformed to be law-abiding citizens.

 

 

References:

Goldstein, J,. (2013, June 10). “The Bling Ring: Nancy Jo Sales Talks Us Through the Crime Timeline.” The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2013/06/14/the-bling-ring-nancy-jo-sales-talks-us-through-the-crime-timeline/

Levine, S., & Murphy D. (Hosts). (2019 May). “The Bling Ring Was Pretty Wild” (No. 19) [Audio Podcast]. Not Another True Crime Story.   https://open.spotify.com/episode/2nOCsePh4ye8l7oAf1d1j1?  (Links to an external site.)si=1okPHyGVTpSTpeu795Hksw  

Sales, N., (2010 March) “The Suspects Wore Louboutins .” Vanity Fair | The Complete Archive, Vanity Fair. https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/share/e9cc0cc3-dbf1-4fab-8367-5fc7c05608e6 (Links to an external site.).