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
SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF SaysNRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.
TechnologyApr 24, 2026
TwentyFour’s Digital-Age Locket Is a Virtual VaultThe “Vault” charm, our Piece of the Week, expands on the memories that can be stored in a locket by connecting to your phone.
Events & AwardsApr 24, 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.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
MajorsApr 17, 2026
QVC Group Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyThe retailer reported an 8 percent decline in annual sales as it struggles under the weight of billions of dollars of debt.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
CrimeApr 17, 2026
FBI Issues Warning to Refineries, Retailers Due to High Price of GoldThe alert states that burglary crews are targeting jewelry businesses and details how jewelers and refineries can protect themselves.
WatchesApr 16, 2026
Cartier Brings Back the RoadsterThe “watchmaker of shapes” debuted the reworked version of the vintage sports car-inspired timepiece at Watches & Wonders.
IndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership TeamAs demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
MajorsApr 16, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Mountings Catalog Is Out NowThe “Mountings 2026-2027” catalog showcases Stuller’s largest and most diverse assortment to date with more than 400 new mounting styles.
