CrimeDec 03, 2024
Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Florida JewelerCrimeDec 11, 2024
Former Tiffany & Co. Factory Supervisor Sentenced for Stealing Precious Metals
A federal judge gave Benjamin Preacher 59 days in jail, plus 10 months of home confinement and two years of supervised release.
Boston—A former Tiffany & Co. factory supervisor accused of pocketing gold, platinum, and silver scrap from the facility will spend two months behind bars.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston announced Dec. 4 that 54-year-old Benjamin Preacher of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to 59 days in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley.
Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 30 months.
Preacher’s attorney, Michael DiStefano, said in email to National Jeweler that the sentence is a “full” and “fair” reflection of all the factors considered in criminal sentencing.
“Mr. Preacher’s personal history is exceptional. A proud military veteran, he has experienced the depths of homelessness and the gratification of eventually owning a home, which he has opened to many people in need of support and a place to stay,” DiStefano said.
“Additionally, the sentence accounts for the non-violent nature of the offense, the family and personal pressures he experienced at the time of the offense, and his lack of any prior interaction with the criminal justice system … Mr. Preacher is taking full responsibility for his conduct and looks forward to continuing to support his family.”
Preacher was arrested in March and pleaded guilty in June to one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods and one count of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions after being accused of stealing more than $1.7 million worth of precious metals scrap over a period of three years.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, from 2018 until early 2024, Preacher worked as a manufacturing supervisor for a “Rhode Island facility operated by a company that sells luxury items, including jewelry made from gold, silver and platinum.”
A LinkedIn profile for Benjamin Preacher in North Attleboro lists him as a lean manufacturing supervisor at Tiffany & Co.’s facility in Cumberland, Rhode Island.
This is the factory that is home to the company’s holloware workshop that crafts, among many other things, the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
According to the affidavit filed at the time of Preacher’s arrest in March, on March 1, about 30 minutes into his shift, workplace security cameras caught Preacher palming a one-inch piece of white gold flat stock worth about $2,200.
When he left the factory that day, cameras recorded him placing his security badge holder on top of the exit X-ray machine, walking through, and then reaching back to grab his badge holder, where he presumably had stashed the gold.
Related stories will be right here …
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston announced Dec. 4 that 54-year-old Benjamin Preacher of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to 59 days in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley.
Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 30 months.
Preacher’s attorney, Michael DiStefano, said in email to National Jeweler that the sentence is a “full” and “fair” reflection of all the factors considered in criminal sentencing.
“Mr. Preacher’s personal history is exceptional. A proud military veteran, he has experienced the depths of homelessness and the gratification of eventually owning a home, which he has opened to many people in need of support and a place to stay,” DiStefano said.
“Additionally, the sentence accounts for the non-violent nature of the offense, the family and personal pressures he experienced at the time of the offense, and his lack of any prior interaction with the criminal justice system … Mr. Preacher is taking full responsibility for his conduct and looks forward to continuing to support his family.”
Preacher was arrested in March and pleaded guilty in June to one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods and one count of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions after being accused of stealing more than $1.7 million worth of precious metals scrap over a period of three years.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, from 2018 until early 2024, Preacher worked as a manufacturing supervisor for a “Rhode Island facility operated by a company that sells luxury items, including jewelry made from gold, silver and platinum.”
A LinkedIn profile for Benjamin Preacher in North Attleboro lists him as a lean manufacturing supervisor at Tiffany & Co.’s facility in Cumberland, Rhode Island.
This is the factory that is home to the company’s holloware workshop that crafts, among many other things, the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
According to the affidavit filed at the time of Preacher’s arrest in March, on March 1, about 30 minutes into his shift, workplace security cameras caught Preacher palming a one-inch piece of white gold flat stock worth about $2,200.
When he left the factory that day, cameras recorded him placing his security badge holder on top of the exit X-ray machine, walking through, and then reaching back to grab his badge holder, where he presumably had stashed the gold.
According to the affidavit, when his employer confronted him about the theft two weeks later, Preacher wrote and signed a statement that he had stolen the white gold flat stock, and had been stealing precious metals from the company and selling them to a gold buyer since 2018.
He also admitted his theft to the IRS, and law enforcement officials seized a bag of precious metal scraps from his home.
Between about March 2020 and March 2023, Preacher took precious metal scraps to a dealer in Canton, Massachusetts, once or twice a month and made more than $1 million.
He also sold gold, platinum, and silver to a different dealer in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, between May and November 2023, with those sales totaling $177,062, according to the affidavit.
In addition to two months in jail, Judge Kelley sentenced Preacher to 10 months of home confinement, 200 hours of community service, and two years of supervised release.
He also was ordered to forfeit approximately $1.3 million.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Crime
The Latest
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
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.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice GraduateThe graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside USThe New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYCInitiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown DiamondsThe designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at VenetiaThe diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowThe annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026AGTA also has announced the lineup of judges for the colored gemstone cutting and jewelry design contest’s various categories.
TechnologyJul 10, 2026
There’s a New Blind Box for Luxury Watches Collectibles platform Arena Club’s new Time Boxes could contain a Rolex or Patek Philippe watch.
TrendsJul 10, 2026
Jade Trau Creates a Constellation of DiamondsThe “Constellation Plié” collar, our Piece of the Week, features diamonds arranged in a constellation of shining stars.
SourcingJul 10, 2026
CFO of De Beers’ Consumer-Facing Division Leaves Company Shaun Wills joined the company in 2024 and was chief financial officer of the De Beers Brands and Consumer Markets division.
