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Episode 1: High Gold Prices, the Diamond Dilemma, & What’s NextWas 2025 a good year for jewelers? Did lab-grown diamonds outsell natural? Find out on the first episode of the “My Next Question” podcast.
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NJ Man Gets Life in Prison in 2009 Murder of Jeweler
The 58-year-old man convicted of shooting and killing jewelry store owner Xavier Egoavil was sentenced last week in Jersey City.
Jersey City, N.J.--The 58-year-old man convicted of murdering a jewelry store owner during a robbery in 2009 has been sentenced to life behind bars.
John DeRosa was found guilty on Oct. 27 in the 2009 shooting death of 47-year-old Xavier Egoavil, who owned Rachel Jewelers in Kearny, New Jersey.
On Friday, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Patrick Arre sentenced DeRosa to life in prison for murder as well as 20 years for armed robbery and 10 years for unlawful possession of a handgun, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
On Aug. 15, 2009, DeRosa robbed the store when he shot and killed Egoavil after an altercation, while the latter’s mother also was in the store working.
DeRosa’s accomplices, Edmir Sokoli and Elvis Feratovic, pleaded guilty to armed robbery in April 2016 and agreed to testify against DeRosa for a lesser sentence.
They are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 20 before Judge Arre. Both Sokoli and Feratovic face up to 20 years in prison.
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