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A 35-year-old man named Lewis Jones has been arrested in connection with a string of armed jewelry store robberies across the Southeast.
Smyrna, Ga.--A second suspect wanted in a series of armed jewelry store robberies across the Southeast has been arrested.
Lewis Jones, 35, is being charged in connection with multiple jewelry store robberies across at least five states that netted millions of dollars’ worth of jewels. National Jeweler has learned that Jones was the additional individual taken into custody when the FBI arrested the alleged female armed robber, identified as 24-year-old Abigail Lee Kemp, without incident on Jan. 8 in Smyrna, an Atlanta suburb.
Both Jones and Kemp are being charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
John Kennedy of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance told National Jeweler that the two are being held without bail, and that the millions of dollars in jewelry stolen during the robberies has yet to be recovered.
According to a statement from the FBI’s Atlanta division, Jones also is wanted in connection with unrelated bank robberies. He is being charged for his alleged role in the Aug. 12, 2014, armed robbery of the Navy Federal Credit Union in DeKalb County, Ga. He also is considered a suspect in a Sept. 9, 2014 armed robbery of a Regions Bank in Smyrna.
According to Kennedy, law enforcement authorities currently are reviewing any other possible suspects connected to the jewelry store robberies but won’t release any further information on that yet.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is handling the case.
Kennedy said that the JSA is reviewing the reward situation and sorting out the many tips received from the public. He said that the organization will pay the $10,000 reward, but that it will most likely be divided among several individuals.
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