5 Men Who Fenced Stolen Diamonds Get 15 Years in Prison
They bought and resold jewels from a South America-based gang that targeted traveling salespeople across the United States.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, the men fenced jewels obtained from what it referred to as a “South American theft and robbery group” that targeted traveling salespeople across the U.S.
One of the men, 51-year-old Romelio Riveron, pled guilty in March 2020 to engaging in a conspiracy to launder money.
According to court documents, Riveron said he traveled from Miami to Texas and other states to purchase stolen diamonds from the group, buying for below market value to turn a profit upon reselling and sending cash payments to co-conspirators in Colombia.
He was sentenced to 32 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $2.3 million in restitution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said he’s paid back approximately $230,000 to date.
In 2019, Elkin Acosta Lopez, 46, and Harrinson Corredor, 29, both pled guilty to money laundering as well.
Plea papers show that Lopez admitted to regularly flying from Bogota, Colombia to Texas to meet up with the robbers and purchase stolen jewelry.
He would then travel to New York City to melt it down before selling it in the U.S. or returning to Colombia to sell it in his shop.
Corredor said he connected Lopez with the robbers and helped broker sales, knowing the jewelry was stolen and taking a portion of the proceeds.
He was sentenced to 63 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution, while Lopez was sentenced to 68 months and ordered to pay $1.4 million.
The fourth perpetrator, 60-year-old Rubenhay Pinkhasov, pled guilty in 2019 to conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce.
Pinkhasov admitted to helping move the stolen diamonds across state lines and to purchasing stolen diamonds and jewelry from the theft and robbery group twice.
He was sentenced to a 27 months behind bars and ordered to pay $1 million.
The fifth man sentenced in the case was 49-year-old Yuri Alishaev, a prominent jewelry dealer in New York City’s Diamond District, according the attorney’s office.
Alishaev said in court documents that he agreed to purchase stolen diamonds from Pinkhasov.
He pled guilty to concealment of a felony and was sentenced to probation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said he’s paid off the entirety of the $1 million he owes in restitution.
The South American theft and robbery group from which the five purchased diamonds was connected to many violent instances nationwide, including robbing one traveling jewelry salesman in Irving, Texas, at gunpoint before beating him to death.
Between 2016 and 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas charged 20 members of the group, all of whom have been convicted and sentenced.
The Latest

The company is focused on modernizing the custom jewelry buying experience with e-commerce tools like product visualization and 3D styling.

Following its recent acquisition, the storied brand has updated its leadership team and regional managers.

AGS also named the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The 20-karat yellow gold and diamond wrap ring is modeled after the Monstera plants in the garden of the brand’s Miami villa.


Rocksbox President Allison Vigil shared the retailer’s expansion plans, and her thoughts on opening stores in malls.

The creator of the WJA Chicago chapter is remembered as a champion for women in the jewelry industry and a loving grandmother.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

The decline was consistent across age groups and almost all income groups, with tariffs and inflation still top of mind.

The “Playlist: Electric Dreams” collection brings lyrics from the musician’s song, “Little Wing,” to life through fine jewelry.

The event is set for May 16-19 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Vault’s Katherine Jetter is accusing the retailer of using info she shared for a potential partnership to move into Nantucket.

The designer brought her children’s book, “The Big Splash Circus,” to life through a collection of playful fine jewelry characters.

The trade association has chosen the recipients of the funding initiative it formed to foster the growth and sustainability of the industry.

The organization has also announced this year’s slate of judges.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 additional pieces that stood out to her at the Couture show.

Lori Tucker started at Williams Jewelers when she was 18 years old.

The “Marvel | Citizen Zenshin” watch is crafted in Super Titanium and has subtle nods to all four “Fantastic Four” superheroes on the dial.

The “XO Tacori” collection was designed to blend luxury and accessible pricing.

Pritesh Patel, the lab’s chief operating officer, will take over as president and CEO of GIA.

National Jeweler and Jewelers of America discuss the standout jewelry trends and biggest news to emerge from the shows this year.

Signatories to the “Luanda Accord” committed to allocating 1 percent of annual diamond revenue to the Natural Diamond Council.

The winning designs captured the “Radiance” theme.

Nominations in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation will be accepted through July 30.

The singer’s ring ticks off many bridal trends, with a thick band, half-bezel setting, and solitaire diamond.

The bracelet references vintage high jewelry and snake symbolism as a playful piece where a python’s head becomes a working belt buckle.

The 10-carat fancy purple-pink diamond with potential links to Marie Antoinette headlined the white-glove jewelry auction this week.