Two of the five Argentines accused of theft at a shopping mall in Miami, USA, spoke for the first time and stated that "we are not repeat offenders" and that it was a "confusing episode". According to Mauricio and Juan Pablo, they are workers and not part of any criminal organization. They explained that they entered the mall with three friends, carrying empty suitcases to put their purchases in. "In the food court, the police stopped us, asked us to open our suitcases, and we had receipts for many of the items, but not for others, which is why they took us to the police station," they said. "The next day, they read the charges against us, set bail for our release, and we did not defend ourselves because it was not the right time," they emphasized. "We are independent. There are no immigration charges against us." They also mentioned that they left the United States without any issues and will not be deported. It is expected that the legal process will be lengthy, and they will have to return to the US on January 29, 2026, to continue the case.
