CollectionsJun 30, 2025
State Property’s New Jewelry Tells ‘The Story of Everything’Co-founders Afzal Imram and Lin Ruiyin brought their son’s story of a cosmic egg, toadstool, and railroad to life in their new collection.
CrimeJan 17, 2017
Female Armed Robber Gets 10 Years in Prison
Abigail Lee Kemp, 25, was sentenced Friday in a Florida federal court after pleading guilty to multiple jewelry store robberies.
Abigail Lee Kemp, shown here in security video footage from two different stores, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for her role in robbing a half-dozen jewelry stores.
Panama City, Fla.--The woman who entered jewelry stores alone and tied up employees at gunpoint before emptying the showcases will spend the next decade behind bars.
In Florida federal court on Friday, Abigail Lee Kemp, 25, of Smyrna, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy, interfering with commerce by robbery and using a firearm during commission of a crime, the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida said via a news release.
Also sentenced on Friday was one of Kemp’s three co-conspirators, 43-year-old Larry Bernard Gilmore, who got 32 years in prison.
The two also were ordered to pay about $1.5 million in restitution for the more than $4 million in jewelry stolen between April 2015 and January 2016, when Kemp was arrested.
Kemp’s court-appointed attorney, Michelle Daffin, declined to comment on her client’s sentencing.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Kemp and Gilmore, along with 36-year-old Lewis Jones III and Gilmore’s older brother, 47-year-old Michael Bernard Gilmore, worked together to rob a total of six jewelry stores. They hit outlet mall stores in Panama City Beach, Florida; Woodstock and Dawsonville, Georgia; Bluffton, South Carolina; Sevierville, Tennessee; and Mebane, North Carolina.
After the first robbery in April 2015 in Woodstock, Jones and the Gilmore brothers started training Kemp to commit the robberies on her own, using the Gilmores’ window tinting shop in Atlanta as their training facility.
The three men reviewed the jewelry store layouts with Kemp, taught her how to handle a gun and secure store employees with zip ties and versed her on what merchandise to steal. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, they also gave her code words, picked her clothes and disguises and purchased the supplies for her, all the while selecting the dates and locations for the robberies.
While she was in the stores, Kemp would communicate with Jones and the Gilmore brothers, who were conducting surveillance outside, via an earpiece.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also noted that in December 2015, a jewelry store manager recognized Kemp when she walked into the store and asked another employee to contact police. Kemp and her co-conspirators called off the robbery and left. Five days later, they committed what would be their sixth and final robbery, in Mebane.
Kemp was arrested a few weeks later at her apartment outside Atlanta.
She entered two separate guilty pleas in the case, the first in July and the second earlier this month.
After
pleading guilty in July, she testified against Jones and the Gilmore brothers at their trial.
The sentencings for Jones and Michael Gilmore were continued to Feb. 16, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The sentencings for Jones and Michael Gilmore were continued to Feb. 16, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
More on Crime
The Latest
ColumnistsJun 30, 2025
The Smart Lab: Why Q3 Is the Secret Weapon For Holiday Jewelry SalesThe best time to prepare for the holiday season is right now, according to columnist Emmanuel Raheb.
Events & AwardsJun 30, 2025
AGA Names Recipient of 2025 Gemological Education ScholarshipThis year’s winner is Morgan Keefe, who is currently studying at GIA to be a gemologist.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
IndependentsJun 30, 2025
Melanie Grant’s New Book Explores 200 Years of Jewelry“The Jewelry Book” comes out this September.
Weekly QuizJun 26, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyJun 27, 2025
Gemist Raises $6M in Funding to Scale Jewelry Tech PlatformThe company is focused on modernizing the custom jewelry buying experience with e-commerce tools like product visualization and 3D styling.
IndependentsJun 27, 2025
David Webb Announces New Hires, PromotionsFollowing its recent acquisition, the storied brand has updated its leadership team and regional managers.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
Events & AwardsJun 27, 2025
AGS, GIA Announce Beatrice Shipley Scholarship Winner AGS also named the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.
CollectionsJun 27, 2025
Piece of the Week: Buddha Mama’s ‘Monstera’ Wrap RingThe 20-karat yellow gold and diamond wrap ring is modeled after the Monstera plants in the garden of the brand’s Miami villa.
MajorsJun 26, 2025
Why Rocksbox Is Opening Stores As Signet Jewelers DownsizesRocksbox President Allison Vigil shared the retailer’s expansion plans, and her thoughts on opening stores in malls.
IndependentsJun 26, 2025
Penny Ruston Dies at 80 The creator of the WJA Chicago chapter is remembered as a champion for women in the jewelry industry and a loving grandmother.
SurveysJun 26, 2025
After Recovering in May, Consumer Confidence Dips in June The decline was consistent across age groups and almost all income groups, with tariffs and inflation still top of mind.
CollectionsJun 26, 2025
Jam Out With Sorellina’s Jimi Hendrix-Inspired JewelsThe “Playlist: Electric Dreams” collection brings lyrics from the musician’s song, “Little Wing,” to life through fine jewelry.
Events & AwardsJun 26, 2025
The Jewelry Symposium Is Looking for Speakers for 2026 EventThe event is set for May 16-19 in Detroit, Michigan.
IndependentsJun 25, 2025
Marissa Collections Opens in Nantucket as Legal Fight ContinuesThe Vault’s Katherine Jetter is accusing the retailer of using info she shared for a potential partnership to move into Nantucket.
CollectionsJun 25, 2025
Splash into Karina Choudhrie’s Collection of Underwater Circus PerformersThe designer brought her children’s book, “The Big Splash Circus,” to life through a collection of playful fine jewelry characters.
Events & AwardsJun 25, 2025
JA Announces Impact Initiative Fund RecipientsThe trade association has chosen the recipients of the funding initiative it formed to foster the growth and sustainability of the industry.
SourcingJun 25, 2025
2025 AGTA Spectrum Awards Open for EntriesThe organization has also announced this year’s slate of judges.
EditorsJun 24, 2025
The Best New Jewelry from Couture 2025, Part 2Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 additional pieces that stood out to her at the Couture show.
IndependentsJun 24, 2025
Colorado Bench Jeweler Celebrates 50 Years With Local RetailerLori Tucker started at Williams Jewelers when she was 18 years old.
WatchesJun 24, 2025
Citizen’s New ‘Fantastic Four’ Watch Is Literally Super The “Marvel | Citizen Zenshin” watch is crafted in Super Titanium and has subtle nods to all four “Fantastic Four” superheroes on the dial.
MajorsJun 24, 2025
Tacori, QVC to Launch Exclusive Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry CollectionThe “XO Tacori” collection was designed to blend luxury and accessible pricing.
GradingJun 23, 2025
GIA Names New President and CEO Pritesh Patel, the lab’s chief operating officer, will take over as president and CEO of GIA.
Recorded WebinarsJun 23, 2025
Watch: Top Trends at Couture, JCK Las Vegas 2025National Jeweler and Jewelers of America discuss the standout jewelry trends and biggest news to emerge from the shows this year.
SourcingJun 23, 2025
Diamond Producers, Organizations to Kick in Money to Promote Natural DiamondsSignatories to the “Luanda Accord” committed to allocating 1 percent of annual diamond revenue to the Natural Diamond Council.
Events & AwardsJun 23, 2025
Jose Hess Design Awards Celebrate 6 Jewelry DesignersThe winning designs captured the “Radiance” theme.
