The Chilean crime thriller series Baby Bandito was released on Netflix on January 31, 2024, and ever since then, it has become the talking point among fans. Directed by Julio Jorquera, Baby Bandito is a crime thriller starring Nicolas Contreras, Francisca Armstrong, and more in the leading roles. The multi-lingual series revolves around a teenager named Kevin Tapia played by Nicolas Contreras who assembles a team to carry out the 'heist of the century' at the International Airport of Santiago, Chile. Netflix's Baby Bandito is inspired by real events that revolves around the life of young skater turned robber Kevin Tapia who steals 6 billion pesos from the International Airport of Santiago, Chile along with his team. The makers have clarified that they have tweaked some facts for themselves and fans, therefore it can be said that Baby Bandito is not entirely a true story. Since you have landed on this page, True Scoop News assumes that you have already watched Baby Bandito on Netflix and are wondering about 'real-life' Kevin Tapia. Below is everything you need to know about Baby Bandito True Story & 'Real-life' Baby Bandito named Kevin Holguin-
Who is real-life Kevin Tapia?
Real-life Kevin Tapia is Kevin Holguin. The infamous 'heist of the century' was carried out by Kevin Holguin Sepulveda and his gang on August 12, 2014. As per reports, in 2014, Kevin Holguin assembled six to ten armed robbers and broke into the Arturo Merino Benitez airport and looted 6 billion pesos from Brink’s securities transport truck. As shown in the series, the money was meant for the ATMs in Fiesta de la Pampilla before it was stolen by Kevin Holguin Sepulveda and his gang. After carrying out the heist, Kevin Holguin and his gang went underground. However, the police finally caught the robbers one by one, except for Kevin Holguin, the 22-year-old thief, who became the face of the heist.
As per Chilean Police reports, after the heist, Kevin Holguin along with his girlfriend fled the country. Kevin used his share of money from the heist to forge fake documents and travel through the Caribbean and Europe. It was true that Kevin and his girlfriend had been quite active on social media websites, which was even presented in Netflix's Baby Bandito series.
Kevin Holguin became so notorious that the Chilean authorities talked to Interpol and issued a red-corner notice. On June 16, 2016, the local police were investigating a series of robberies in the neighborhood of Gracia when they came across Kevin Holguín, who thought he could get away by showing forged documents and IDs to the authorities. Kevin's fingerprint had played a crucial part in issuing Red Corner notice. As shown in the Netflix series, Kevin left the fence cutter in a bid to escape after the robbery and this is what gave away his fingerprint. Due to this, despite his change in ID, he was traced in Italy.
What happened to Kevin Holguin?
On the Chilean Government's request to the Spanish government, Kevin Holguin was extradited so that he can serve his sentence in his country. A few months later, he was brought back to Chile, where he received four years of imprisonment but soon received parole and a temporary residence. He was required to check in with the authorities every two weeks, but Kevin fled the scene.
Notably, reports suggest that Kevin Holguin had become an expert in forging documents. Hence, he successfully evaded arrest and was never arrested after that. In the Baby Bandito series, it has been shown that Kevin Holguin is in Rome and involved in petty street crimes. Also, the robbed money was never recovered.
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