SurveysApr 03, 2025
2025 Retail Sales to Grow More Slowly Amid ‘Uncertainty,’ Says NRFThe National Retail Federation expects retail sales growth to return to pre-pandemic levels as consumers continue to face inflation.
CrimeApr 25, 2017
Sapphire Co. Exec Charged with Forging Judge’s Signature
The president of New York City-based The Natural Sapphire Company allegedly forged the signature on counterfeit court orders to remove online reviews.
New York--The president of one New York City sapphire company is being charged with forging a federal judge’s signature to help repair his business’s reputation online.
The Natural Sapphire Company is a third generation jeweler in Manhattan specializing in pieces featuring the corundum. The company made headlines in early 2011 when President Michael Arnstein said sales had increased exponentially thanks to Kate Middleton’s sapphire engagement ring.
Since then, the company has been fighting fake negative reviews online.
In July 2011, The Natural Sapphire Company filed a lawsuit against Mumbai-based Transpacific Software, a web design and software development company, and its founder, Prashant Telang, for cybersquatting and defamation.
The jewelry company had hired Telang to design its website at TheNaturalSapphireCompany.com and to purchase a number of domains on its behalf in 2004, the same year it changed its name from Natural Sapphire Company to The Natural Sapphire Company and moved its business to operating almost solely online.
In January 2011, it terminated its relationship with Telang due to his “failure to cooperate and to perform his duties as required.”
Shortly after that, Telang changed the contact information listed under the domain’s registration, the July 2011 complaint stated, and the company’s website “repeatedly became disabled … as a result of Telang’s attempts to harass Natural Sapphire Company, disrupt and disparage its business and extort money from the company,” court papers state.
After seizing control of the website, The Natural Sapphire Company claimed that Telang was using the domain name to redirect to a website listing links to forums where Telang, posing as a customer, posted false and disparaging reviews of the company. He also sent the company emails taunting them about his actions and how many potential customers they were losing as a result.
According to court documents, Telang asked for $100,000 to stop the harassment and return the domain to the company.
The Natural Sapphire Company’s case against Telang was settled in 2012 when U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan ordered Transpacific to take down at least 54 fake reviews across a number of review and consumer advocacy websites such as ScamInformer.com, PissedConsumer.com and RipoffReport.com.
Now it is Arnstein who is facing a court case, as federal prosecutors have filed a complaint alleging that the jeweler took matters into his own hands to remove reviews beyond those ordered by the judge.
A complaint filed in March in U.S. District Court for
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
the Southern District of New York charges Arnstein with two counts of forging the signature of Judge Nathan as well as one more count of conspiracy to forge a judge’s signature between 2014 and February of this year.
According to the court papers filed in the case, in October 2014, Arnstein instructed an individual at his company to create a counterfeit judicial order by digitally altering the real one. He then allegedly emailed a copy of the counterfeit order to Google, requesting that the company remove certain URLs from its search results.
In the criminal complaint, the U.S. Attorney’s office also provided examples of email correspondence from Arnstein to various individuals including one that read: “No bullshit: if I could do it all over again I would have found another court order injunction for removal of links (probably something that can be found online pretty easily), made changes in Photoshop to show the links that I wanted removed and then sent to ‘removals@google.com’ as a pdf--showing the court order docket number, the judges [sic] signature--but with the new links put in.”
According to the complaint, Google received at least 10 more emails between Jan. 19, 2015, and Feb. 10, 2017, with forged orders to remove links and the forged signature of Judge Nathan, who signed Arnstein’s initial judgment in 2012.
Arnstein was arrested on April 17 and went before U.S. Magistrate Barbara Moses that afternoon. He was released on his own recognizance.
According to court documents, a preliminary hearing in the case is set to take place May 17.
When contacted by National Jeweler, Arnstein’s lawyer, Steven Brounstein, emphasized that the case has nothing to do with the company’s reputation with real clients, and added that Arnstein was “clearly victimized” in the case involving Telang and his company.
(Telang and his company have no connection to the current case against Arnstein, and Telang noted via email that he has had no contact with Arnstein or his company since 2012.)
Arnstein is pleading not guilty.
“Our legal team looks forward to working with the Justice Department so we can present the extraordinary mitigating circumstances that led to these charges,” he told National Jeweler. “Our company has been through a tremendous challenge, which we are sure will be of great interest to many trade professionals and internet-based businesses. We cannot make any further comment until we have further discussions with Justice Department on this case.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated post-publication to add a statement from Transpacific’s Prashant Telang.
According to the court papers filed in the case, in October 2014, Arnstein instructed an individual at his company to create a counterfeit judicial order by digitally altering the real one. He then allegedly emailed a copy of the counterfeit order to Google, requesting that the company remove certain URLs from its search results.
In the criminal complaint, the U.S. Attorney’s office also provided examples of email correspondence from Arnstein to various individuals including one that read: “No bullshit: if I could do it all over again I would have found another court order injunction for removal of links (probably something that can be found online pretty easily), made changes in Photoshop to show the links that I wanted removed and then sent to ‘removals@google.com’ as a pdf--showing the court order docket number, the judges [sic] signature--but with the new links put in.”
According to the complaint, Google received at least 10 more emails between Jan. 19, 2015, and Feb. 10, 2017, with forged orders to remove links and the forged signature of Judge Nathan, who signed Arnstein’s initial judgment in 2012.
Arnstein was arrested on April 17 and went before U.S. Magistrate Barbara Moses that afternoon. He was released on his own recognizance.
According to court documents, a preliminary hearing in the case is set to take place May 17.
When contacted by National Jeweler, Arnstein’s lawyer, Steven Brounstein, emphasized that the case has nothing to do with the company’s reputation with real clients, and added that Arnstein was “clearly victimized” in the case involving Telang and his company.
(Telang and his company have no connection to the current case against Arnstein, and Telang noted via email that he has had no contact with Arnstein or his company since 2012.)
Arnstein is pleading not guilty.
“Our legal team looks forward to working with the Justice Department so we can present the extraordinary mitigating circumstances that led to these charges,” he told National Jeweler. “Our company has been through a tremendous challenge, which we are sure will be of great interest to many trade professionals and internet-based businesses. We cannot make any further comment until we have further discussions with Justice Department on this case.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated post-publication to add a statement from Transpacific’s Prashant Telang.
More on Crime
The Latest
TrendsApr 03, 2025
Tallulah Willis Imbues Antique Engagement Ring With MagicThe 4-carat, old mine brilliant-cut diamond engagement ring was co-designed by Willis and New York City-based brand Karina Noel.
SourcingApr 03, 2025
Canadian Mine Produces 158-Carat Yellow Diamond Rio Tinto unearthed the diamond at its Diavik mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories.
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They DeserveBench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.
CollectionsApr 03, 2025
Buccellati to Open Immersive Exhibition in MilanThe multisensory experience, open April 8-13, will feature the brand’s silver creations among dream-like scenes of natural landscapes.
Weekly QuizMar 27, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesApr 03, 2025
Jewelers of America to Hold Webinar on TariffsThe virtual event will take place April 7 at 3 p.m.
CollectionsApr 02, 2025
Bea Bongiasca’s ‘Tarallo’ Collection Expansion Is a ZooThe pieces in “Animali Tarallo” portray animals from stingrays to elephants through portraits and interpretations of their patterns.
Brought to you by
Natural Diamonds Should Mean MoreNatural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.
MajorsApr 02, 2025
Neiman Marcus’ Dallas Flagship Will Remain Open, For NowParent company Saks Global said the iconic location will be open through the holiday season as it decides what to do with the space.
SourcingApr 02, 2025
Winston’s Collection of Natural Color Diamonds Now on Display in D.C. Ronald Winston, son of Harry Winston, donated the diamonds to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Events & AwardsApr 02, 2025
Punchmark to Host Client WorkshopThe educational event will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, this May.
IndependentsApr 01, 2025
Bergman Jewelers in Omaha Closing After 137 YearsThe independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.
MajorsApr 01, 2025
QVC Group to Cut 900 Jobs in the U.S.The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
U.S. Antique Shows Adds Fall Show in FloridaThe debut event will take place in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood this fall.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
TJS to Host Discussion on Jewelry Industry’s Labor ShortageThe roundtable will take place May 17 ahead of the trade show’s welcome dinner.
CollectionsApr 01, 2025
Monica Rich Kosann Says ‘Good Grief’ in Peanuts Jewelry CollectionThe “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.
Recorded WebinarsMar 31, 2025
Watch: What Do We Mean When We Say ‘Recycled’ Gold?Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.
TrendsMar 31, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Dripping in DiamondsDiamonds are not only one of the most prominent gemstones, but the birthstone for those born in April.
MajorsMar 31, 2025
Lashbrook Expands Into Luxury Golf Gifts With AcquisitionThe Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.
WatchesMar 31, 2025
Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin Will Also Head LVMH WatchesThe longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.
SourcingMar 28, 2025
19th-Century Jade Book Now Available in EnglishLotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.
CollectionsMar 28, 2025
Piece of the Week: Löf’s ‘The Valentine’ RingThe ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.
SurveysMar 27, 2025
Consumer Confidence Falls in March Amid ‘Gloomy’ OutlookThe Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.
AuctionsMar 27, 2025
300-Year-Old Ring Linked to Witch Trial Judge Goes Unsold at Auction However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.
WatchesMar 27, 2025
Austin Butler Joins Breitling as Brand AmbassadorThe Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.
SourcingMar 27, 2025
Susan Jacques, Gaetano Cavalieri to Headline 2025 ICA Congress The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.
IndependentsMar 26, 2025
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Acquires Fellow NC Independent JewelerThe family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.
