CrimeJan 12, 2023
Thieves Steal $2M in Jewelry in Another Brooklyn RobberyCrimeFeb 06, 2023
Queens Jeweler Convicted of Laundering Stolen Luxury Watches
A jury found Stanislav Yakubov guilty of money laundering and making false statements to federal law enforcement agents.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York is asking anyone who knows the whereabouts of the stolen watches pictured to contact them. Jeweler Stanislav Yakubov has been convicted of laundering the stolen goods.
New York—It’s the end of the road for a jeweler accused of laundering stolen luxury watches.
A jury found Stanislav “Steve” Yakubov, owner of a jewelry store in the Jamaica Colosseum Mall in Queens, New York, guilty on one count of money laundering and two counts of making false statements to federal law enforcement agents, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams announced Feb. 1.
U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos presided over the eight-day trial. Ramos will sentence 42-year-old Yakubov on June 1.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Yakubov agreed to purchase stolen luxury watches valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some of the watches were stolen from jewelers in Yakubov’s community, and some in violent armed robberies.
“Yakubov’s actions fueled a year-long robbery spree that targeted nearly a dozen victims, and his conviction sends a message to the community that the purchase and laundering of stolen property will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.
There are 10 robberies and attempted robberies to which Yakubov is linked.
The robberies took place in 2019 and 2020, according to evidence presented at trial and the trial’s superseding indictment.
On Oct. 3, 2019, a Long Island City, New York, jeweler was robbed of a Richard Mille watch worth more than $150,000.
On Oct. 25, 2019, a Jamaica, New York, jeweler was robbed of a Rolex worth more than $118,000.
On Dec. 10, 2019, a Brooklyn, New York, jeweler was robbed of a Patek Philippe worth more than $160,000, as well as a diamond necklace valued at over $77,000.
On Oct. 25, 2019, a Jamaica, New York, jeweler was robbed of a Rolex worth more than $118,000.
On Dec. 10, 2019, a Brooklyn, New York, jeweler was robbed of a Patek Philippe worth more than $160,000, as well as a diamond necklace valued at over $77,000.
On Jan. 14, 2020, a Rego Park, New York, jeweler was robbed of a Richard Mille watch worth more than $500,000.
On Feb. 16, 2020, a Jamaica Estates, New York, jeweler was robbed of an Audemars Piguet watch worth over $28,000. On. Feb. 20, 2020, an individual in Long Island City was robbed of a watch valued at over $125,00.
On Feb. 16, 2020, a Jamaica Estates, New York, jeweler was robbed of an Audemars Piguet watch worth over $28,000. On. Feb. 20, 2020, an individual in Long Island City was robbed of a watch valued at over $125,00.
Things cooled off during the earliest pandemic lockdowns, when jewelry stores were closed, but resumed in June 2020.
On June 11, 2020, a Hoboken, New Jersey, jeweler was robbed of a Richard Mille timepiece valued at more than $81,000. On July 6, 2020, another jeweler in Hoboken was robbed of a Richard Mille watch worth more than $180,000.
On July 20, 2020, there was an attempted robbery of a Richard Mille watch worth more than $180,000 from a jeweler in Queens.
Finally, on Aug. 2, 2020 a food critic and social media influencer was robbed of a Richard Mille watch worth more than $250,000 in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
In all of these successful robberies, additional items were stolen, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
As for the robbers themselves, one of the men, Victor Rivera, pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery between October 2019 and November 2020. Rivera used guns to commit several of the robberies and in one, shot a victim who survived.
He was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York is asking anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of the stolen watches to contact them at 1-866-874-8900.
In addition to Yakubov’s money laundering conviction, he was also convicted of two counts of making false statements to federal law enforcement agents.
The former carries a maximum 20-year sentence and the latter a five-year maximum sentence each.
More on Crime
The Latest
SourcingJul 30, 2026
De Beers Sale in ‘Final, Most Challenging’ Phase, Anglo CEO SaysThe goal is for the De Beers sale to be finished by the second half of 2026, with the subsequent approvals process expected to take a year.
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2026
JA Heads Back to Washington as New Wave of Tariffs Takes Effect David Bonaparte, along with Tim Haake and Ronnie VanderLinden, continue to lobby for tariff exemptions for diamonds, gemstones, and pearls.
SurveysJul 30, 2026
Consumer Confidence Slips in JulySurvey respondents were concerned about the rising prices of food and groceries as well as unemployment.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Events & AwardsJul 30, 2026
Vicenzaoro Releases 2026 Education LineupThe trade show, slated for Sept. 4-8 in Vicenza, Italy, will feature sessions on trends, AI, gemology, and manufacturing.
Weekly QuizJul 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsJul 30, 2026
Hillsborough Show Moves to New Location for 2026The public shopping event featuring art, jewelry, watches, and rare collectibles, will take place in Santa Clara, California, this fall.
EditorsJul 29, 2026
Q&A: The Past and Future of Angola’s Diamond Industry Endiama Commercial Director Elton Escrivão knows people have a lot of misperceptions about Angola. He wants to change that.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
MajorsJul 29, 2026
Kevin Reilly Retires After 39 Years in the Jewelry Industry Reilly has been with PGI USA for the last 20 years, leading partnership development and professional education.
FinancialsJul 29, 2026
Kering’s H1 Jewelry Sales Up 14%Boucheron reached record sales while Pomellato found success in its signature collections.
Events & AwardsJul 29, 2026
Lauren Harwell Godfrey Designs a Flag for ArkansasShe was one of more than 120 American designers who created flags for the “United Flags of Fashion” project led by CFDA and Vogue.
ColumnistsJul 28, 2026
Peter Smith: Why Your Job Postings May Be Working Against You Smith reveals the method The Retail Smiths use to help retailers and vendors write better job postings.
FinancialsJul 28, 2026
Tiffany & Co., Bulgari Lead the Way for LVMH in H1LVMH’s jewelry and watch brands outperformed the company’s other divisions in an environment the company described as “disrupted.”
CollectionsJul 28, 2026
Lionheart’s New Collection Unites Spiritual Iconography“Sacred Heart” features symbols like crosses, angel wings, the Star of David, and the evil eye as a representation of coexistence.
Events & AwardsJul 28, 2026
The Edge Funding 2 Scholarships Via 24 Karat Club SEUS The scholarships will go to early-career professionals looking to study gemology, bench work and jewelry design, or store operations.
SurveysJul 27, 2026
Jewelry Leads Luxury Market Amid Stabilization, Bain SaysBain & Company delved into the trends shaping the luxury market, the impact of AI, and more in its recent study.
SourcingJul 27, 2026
‘Rubies’ Goes on Display at Harvard MuseumThe exhibition reveals the gemology, geology, and cultural history of the iconic red gemstone.
Policies & IssuesJul 24, 2026
New Trump Tariffs: What They Mean for Jewelry The new sweeping slate of tariffs impacts 60 countries, including India, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.
TrendsJul 24, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Ode to ‘The Odyssey’From coin pendants to diamond shields, these old world-inspired jewels are the perfect accessory for an epic journey.
TrendsJul 24, 2026
Courtney Leidy’s Silk Cord Pendants Center Unexpected Pairings Our Piece of the Week pairs a checkerboard-cut amethyst with an ivy green silk cord.
PodcastsJul 23, 2026
Episode 7: Reinhold Jewelers on the Power of RelationshipsMildred Marcano Abrams and Yael Reinhold join the podcast to talk community connections, holiday plans, and preserving Reinhold’s legacy.
SourcingJul 23, 2026
De Beers’ Production Jumps 88 Percent in Q2 Production also was up in the first half of 2026 but is expected to “substantially” decrease in H2 as two key mines undergo maintenance.
CollectionsJul 23, 2026
Silvia Furmanovich’s New Collection Travels Back to the 1920s“Art Deco” fuses ancestral techniques, rare materials, and modern perspectives as a tribute to the optimism and curiosity of the movement.
IndependentsJul 23, 2026
Sissy's Log Cabin Opens Casino StoreThe jeweler’s newest store is inside Arkansas’ Saracen Casino Resort.
WatchesJul 23, 2026
Movado Inks Licensing Deal With Kate Spade New YorkThe watch company will design, manufacture, and distribute Kate Spade New York watches.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2026
Trump to Put 50% Tariff on Canadian Goods The higher tax is set to go into effect in August and will apply to loose polished diamonds as well as precious and base metals jewelry.
CollectionsJul 22, 2026
Monica Rich Kosann’s High Jewelry Is FruitfulThe “Enchanted Garden” series features a cherry, lemon, and pear that each hold a little secret inside.
