4 Men Arrested After Allegedly Plotting to Kidnap Jeweler
The suspects are accused of planning to kidnap a Miami jeweler and rob him of his cryptocurrency.

The men were identified in court documents as: Zacary Briggs, 22; Aaron Hammond, 21; Tre’von Anthony Neal, 20; and Evan Puckett, 18, though they went by nicknames in their intercepted communications.
According to an affidavit filed in federal court, on Jan. 6, a confidential source informed authorities that a man he referred to as “Jack” was gathering a group of people to kidnap a jeweler who worked in the Seybold Building in downtown Miami, a popular space for jewelers.
The source said Jack had been in contact with the jeweler online and wanted to exchange a large amount of cryptocurrency for cash, according to the affidavit.
Jack included the informant in a group chat on the Telegram app with the three other men known as “Dot,” Swipey,” and “Tim,” a collection of individuals Jack referred to as the “goons.”
Swipey is believed to be Puckett, authorities said, though they did not specify which nicknames the other men went by.
Jack sent the group a screenshot of the jeweler’s digital wallet, which showed he held about $2 million in cryptocurrency.
Jack and his partner, Tim, agreed to provide the group with $3,500 to facilitate the kidnapping.
The plan was to hold the jeweler hostage until the crypto ransom was paid, according to the affidavit.
The men planned to bring firearms, including Mac-10s and .223 assault-style rifles, said the affidavit.
The group asked the informant to provide a vehicle for the kidnapping so the men could scope out the area prior to the kidnapping.
Tim arranged for the informant, known as “D,” to meet with Puckett to pick up the car.
Instead of sending D, investigators sent an undercover agent posing as D to meet Puckett, providing him with a black 2023 Chevy Tahoe. The car was outfitted with audio and video recording devices.
On Jan. 13, authorities tracked Neal’s cellphone as he and another suspect went to meet with Puckett to commit the kidnapping.
In a recording, three members of the group were heard talking about the kidnapping plot, the affidavit states.
One man was heard saying that “one knock” should be enough to subdue the victim, but that he didn’t want to cause serious damage.
According the affidavit, another man replied that he didn’t want the victim to stab or shoot him, presumably in self-defense, while a third man replied he would kill the victim.
The men were intercepted by authorities when they parked the car before the kidnapping could take place.
Briggs, Hammond, and Puckett were arrested immediately, followed by Neal, who had fled toward a nearby business, a short time later.
Authorities interviewed the four men after taking them into custody.
Neal said his role was to protect the “crew” if the jeweler tried to defend himself with a weapon, said the affidavit. He had a knife on him, it said, but he claimed he didn’t intend to use it.
Puckett admitted the group intended to rob the victim for his cryptocurrency, authorities said, but only planned to use the guns he brought if he needed to defend himself.
Briggs told authorities at first that he was hired as a driver for $500 per day, but later admitted he was aware of the plan, though insisted he would only act as the driver.
If he felt threatened, Briggs told authorities he planned to run the aggressor over with the truck.
Briggs also said the plan was that Puckett would meet with the jeweler under the pretense that he wanted to exchange watches for cryptocurrency, though there wouldn’t really be any watches.
He said Puckett was known for scamming people out of cryptocurrency.
Hammond told authorities the plan was to lure the jeweler to the car, rob him, and then let him go.
Following their arrests, the men were booked into Broward Sheriff’s Office jail.
They are facing federal charges of kidnapping conspiracy, attempted conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, and attempted Hobbs Act extortion.
The Latest

Now in its fourth year, the program is expanding to include a list of “20 Under 40” for jewelry suppliers.

Smith details the types of store managers he’s encountered, with the goal of helping retailers find a person who’s a fit for their store.

The brands immersed one of Bulgari’s most famous historical icons in MB&F’s ultra-mechanical universe of haute horlogerie.

Colored stones are stepping into a jewelry spotlight typically reserved for diamonds—are you ready to sell color?

The luxury titan’s full-year performance was weighed down by struggling sales at its star brand Gucci.


The jewelry manufacturer has launched more than 100 pieces made with natural diamonds.

Bain & Co.’s latest report on the luxury market examines why the market’s customer base is shrinking and how to appeal to consumers in 2025.

The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.

The collection centers on the art of tailoring, inspired by designs that feature folded fabrics, such as a tuxedo lapel.

The trade show has added a new location to its fall line-up.

From the brand’s latest collection of lucky charms, the ladybird is seen as a bearer of good fortune and a ward against negative energy.

The moves come amid a prolonged period of lower demand for diamonds, particularly in China.

The workshop returns in March, along with the “Battle of the Benches” mini challenge series.

Two attorneys purchased Windsor Jewelry, which was set to close, and will retain all existing staff at the downtown Indianapolis store.

Adam Heyman joined the family business in 1965, just weeks after graduating from Columbia Business School.

The “Essence of Nature, Chapter One” collection echoes trees and roots, literally and figuratively, through three sets of high jewelry.

The fourth-generation, family-owned jeweler has given its Worth Avenue store a new look.

Luxury watch dealer Anthony Farrer pleaded guilty late last year to defrauding clients in a scheme with Ponzi-type elements.

In its full-year results, the retailer shared its 2025 outlook and an update on the global rollout of its lab-grown diamond collection.

Celebrate February birthstones and the gem shows in Arizona this month with a versatile stone like amethyst.

Scheetz has been with the nonprofit since 2007.

The agreement will allocate an increasing proportion of the country’s rough diamonds to the government of Botswana over the next decade.

“Cosmic Splendor: Jewelry From the Collections of Van Cleef & Arpels,” opens April 11 at the American Museum of Natural History.

Those celebrating Valentine’s Day this year are expected to spend a record $27.5 billion on jewels, flowers, candy, and more.

From Lady Gaga’s 1930s Tiffany & Co. necklace to Taylor Swift’s “T,” Michelle Graff recaps the night’s most memorable jewelry looks.

Layoffs will reportedly start next month as HSN plans to move into QVC’s location in Pennsylvania.

A group of creatives talked to Associate Editor Lauren McLemore about their approach to the annual Tucson gem, mineral, and fossil shows.