A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
5 Arrested in Attacks on Traveling Jewelry Salespeople
The attacks included the June 2016 armed robbery that resulted in the death of a traveling salesman near the Dallas/Fort Worth airport.
Dallas--Five members of a South American gang have been arrested in a string of attacks on traveling jewelry salespeople that included the June 2016 armed robbery and murder of a traveling salesman near the Dallas/Fort Worth airport.
According to the indictment in the case, the attacks took place between April and June 2016, all in the Dallas metro area. The Dallas-area incidences were among a number of attacks that took place around this time, prompting Jewelers Security Alliance President John J. Kennedy to issue a warning about the spike in off-premises crimes.
In the first incident on April 27, three of the five suspects approached a traveling diamond jewelry salesman as he was leaving a store in Garland, Texas, and robbed him at gunpoint, according to the indictment.
The second incident outlined in the indictment happened on June 2. All five suspects allegedly followed a traveling diamond and jewelry salesman to a gas station in Arlington, Texas, where he was robbed at gunpoint.
According to the indictment, the third incident took place June 9 at a gas station near the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and was the robbery that ultimately resulted in the death of 42-year-old Muhammed Shaikh.
The five suspects allegedly had followed Shaikh from a store in Richardson, Texas, north of Dallas, to this gas station near the airport. When they saw him go into the gas station’s convenience store, one of the suspects broke a window on his rental vehicle with a handgun, grabbed a case of jewelry and put it in the getaway vehicle.
Shaikh saw what was happening, ran from the store and dove into the open window of the getaway car in an attempt to grab the case.
According to the indictment, the driver then started driving through the parking lot “in a manner intended to dislodge (Shaikh) from the vehicle,” striking several other cars before driving off with the salesman still partially inside the car.
The suspects allegedly drove to an apartment complex in Irving, Texas, where they removed Shaikh from the vehicle and beat him. He was later found unconscious and died at the hospital.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the five individuals arrested were Johnnattan Ramirez, 35; Pedro Louis Alvarez, 32; Robert Riveros, 25; Eslevy Vargas-Avila, 27; and Catherine Contreras-Beltran, 28.
U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas called the five an “extremely dangerous group of robbers” that are “part of a larger, organized
All five face a total of five robbery and weapons charges each, while Ramirez, Alvarez and Riveros face additional charges for the April 27 armed robbery.
The robbery charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, while the maximum penalty for the firearms charges is life in prison.
The charges were filed against the five in a superseding indictment back in October, but it took law enforcement officials time to track them all down.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Alvarez was arrested in June in New York City while the other four suspects were taken into custody in their native Colombia. The arrests began in December 2016 and finished July 19 with the arrest of the last suspect, Riveros.
Riveros, along with Contreras-Beltran, Vargas-Avila and Ramirez, are awaiting extradition to the United States.
Also last week, the FBI in Atlanta took two individuals into custody who were wanted in the April 18 armed robbery of a jewelry store in Conyers, Georgia.
According to the FBI Atlanta Field Office, 29-year-old Cephos Leyon “Jamal” White, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, and 31-year-old Sandrika Denise Sears (aka Nubian Monae) of Decatur, were arrested last Wednesday by FBI agents and officers from the Conyers Police Department.
A federal criminal complaint alleges that back in April, the two entered the Kay Jewelers store on Dogwood Avenue in Conyers and robbed the store of more than $700,000 of merchandise at gunpoint.
The Latest
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.
From now through mid-May, GIA will be offering the reports at a 50 percent discount.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
De Beers’ rough diamond sales were down 18 percent year-over-year in its latest round of sales.
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show
The Patek Philippe expert will serve as personal curator for the brand-focused company.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
The 553-square-foot shop is aboard the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship.
NDC filed a complaint against Skydiamond for use of phrases like “diamonds made entirely from the sky.”
John Carter received the AGS’s highest honor Tuesday afternoon at Conclave in Austin, Texas.
LVMH said the company performed well despite an uncertain geopolitical and economic environment.
B&D Sales and Service held a ribbon-cutting event for its new location in Cranston, Rhode Island.
It’s ultra-feminine and filled with gold, pearls, and soft pastels.
Emily Highet Morgan and Emily Bennett have joined the agency’s team.
Its updated book for mountings is also now available.
She has been with the organization since 2010, most recently serving as its chief officer of PR and industry relations.
Joyce’s Jewelry sued the bank after cybercriminals drained its accounts of nearly $1.6 million through a series of wire transfers.
He is remembered by loved ones for his loyalty, integrity, and kindness.
Hosted by Freeman’s | Hindman, the sale will take place May 7-8.
The auction house said all 24 timepieces offered in its underground sale of rare and avant-garde watches quickly found buyers.
From lab-grown diamonds and AI to the inevitable Taylor Swift mention, here are some of Conclave’s most intriguing educational offerings.
From cybersecurity liability to trade show coverage, insurance experts share tips on how to build the right policy.
The charm is a modern rendition of the evil eye amulet that has been worn for thousands of years.
Ahead of its trade show next month, TJS awarded free registration and accommodations to one jewelry professional and three students.
By the end of this year, SRK’s diamond manufacturing complexes will achieve net zero emissions, one of an impressive array of achievements.
Members can still sell lab-grown stones, it said, but only natural gems are allowed on the show floor.