IndependentsSep 04, 2026
Orloff Jewelers Will Soon Unveil a Bigger, Better LocationThe California jeweler is renovating its store in Fresno, with plans to show off the new space in December.
CrimeJul 31, 2017
5 Arrested in Attacks on Traveling Jewelry Salespeople
The attacks included the June 2016 armed robbery that resulted in the death of a traveling salesman near the Dallas/Fort Worth airport.
Dallas--Five members of a South American gang have been arrested in a string of attacks on traveling jewelry salespeople that included the June 2016 armed robbery and murder of a traveling salesman near the Dallas/Fort Worth airport.
According to the indictment in the case, the attacks took place between April and June 2016, all in the Dallas metro area. The Dallas-area incidences were among a number of attacks that took place around this time, prompting Jewelers Security Alliance President John J. Kennedy to issue a warning about the spike in off-premises crimes.
In the first incident on April 27, three of the five suspects approached a traveling diamond jewelry salesman as he was leaving a store in Garland, Texas, and robbed him at gunpoint, according to the indictment.
The second incident outlined in the indictment happened on June 2. All five suspects allegedly followed a traveling diamond and jewelry salesman to a gas station in Arlington, Texas, where he was robbed at gunpoint.
According to the indictment, the third incident took place June 9 at a gas station near the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and was the robbery that ultimately resulted in the death of 42-year-old Muhammed Shaikh.
The five suspects allegedly had followed Shaikh from a store in Richardson, Texas, north of Dallas, to this gas station near the airport. When they saw him go into the gas station’s convenience store, one of the suspects broke a window on his rental vehicle with a handgun, grabbed a case of jewelry and put it in the getaway vehicle.
Shaikh saw what was happening, ran from the store and dove into the open window of the getaway car in an attempt to grab the case.
According to the indictment, the driver then started driving through the parking lot “in a manner intended to dislodge (Shaikh) from the vehicle,” striking several other cars before driving off with the salesman still partially inside the car.
The suspects allegedly drove to an apartment complex in Irving, Texas, where they removed Shaikh from the vehicle and beat him. He was later found unconscious and died at the hospital.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the five individuals arrested were Johnnattan Ramirez, 35; Pedro Louis Alvarez, 32; Robert Riveros, 25; Eslevy Vargas-Avila, 27; and Catherine Contreras-Beltran, 28.
U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas called the five an “extremely dangerous group of robbers” that are “part of a larger, organized
South American theft group that has targeted members of the jewelry industry across this nation for a number of years.”
All five face a total of five robbery and weapons charges each, while Ramirez, Alvarez and Riveros face additional charges for the April 27 armed robbery.
The robbery charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, while the maximum penalty for the firearms charges is life in prison.
The charges were filed against the five in a superseding indictment back in October, but it took law enforcement officials time to track them all down.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Alvarez was arrested in June in New York City while the other four suspects were taken into custody in their native Colombia. The arrests began in December 2016 and finished July 19 with the arrest of the last suspect, Riveros.
Riveros, along with Contreras-Beltran, Vargas-Avila and Ramirez, are awaiting extradition to the United States.
Also last week, the FBI in Atlanta took two individuals into custody who were wanted in the April 18 armed robbery of a jewelry store in Conyers, Georgia.
According to the FBI Atlanta Field Office, 29-year-old Cephos Leyon “Jamal” White, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, and 31-year-old Sandrika Denise Sears (aka Nubian Monae) of Decatur, were arrested last Wednesday by FBI agents and officers from the Conyers Police Department.
A federal criminal complaint alleges that back in April, the two entered the Kay Jewelers store on Dogwood Avenue in Conyers and robbed the store of more than $700,000 of merchandise at gunpoint.
All five face a total of five robbery and weapons charges each, while Ramirez, Alvarez and Riveros face additional charges for the April 27 armed robbery.
The robbery charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, while the maximum penalty for the firearms charges is life in prison.
The charges were filed against the five in a superseding indictment back in October, but it took law enforcement officials time to track them all down.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Alvarez was arrested in June in New York City while the other four suspects were taken into custody in their native Colombia. The arrests began in December 2016 and finished July 19 with the arrest of the last suspect, Riveros.
Riveros, along with Contreras-Beltran, Vargas-Avila and Ramirez, are awaiting extradition to the United States.
Also last week, the FBI in Atlanta took two individuals into custody who were wanted in the April 18 armed robbery of a jewelry store in Conyers, Georgia.
According to the FBI Atlanta Field Office, 29-year-old Cephos Leyon “Jamal” White, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, and 31-year-old Sandrika Denise Sears (aka Nubian Monae) of Decatur, were arrested last Wednesday by FBI agents and officers from the Conyers Police Department.
A federal criminal complaint alleges that back in April, the two entered the Kay Jewelers store on Dogwood Avenue in Conyers and robbed the store of more than $700,000 of merchandise at gunpoint.
More on Crime
The Latest
CollectionsSep 04, 2026
Chelsea Gabrielle Transforms Pilates Reformer Springs Into Ring A lifelong practitioner of Pilates, Gabrielle looked to the springs’ tension and suspension when creating this ring, our Piece of the Week.
Events & AwardsSep 04, 2026
JCK Industry Fund Accepting 2027 ApplicationsThe deadline to apply is Nov. 13.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
AuctionsSep 04, 2026
Christie's Names New Global Head of WatchesThe auction house has promoted Remi Guillemin, formerly its head of watches for the Americas and EMEA, to the role.
Weekly QuizSep 03, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsSep 03, 2026
Q&A: Simon G.’s CEO on Why He Won’t Use AI for Jewelry DesignZaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.
Events & AwardsSep 03, 2026
Here Are the First Recipients of Nina Pugliese Memorial Scholarship Jewelers of America also revealed the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship and its own scholarship programs.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
WatchesSep 03, 2026
Robert Pattinson Joins Jaeger-LeCoultre as Brand AmbassadorThe British actor, known for his roles in “Twilight” and “The Odyssey,” will star in a campaign for the Master Control Chronometre.
CollectionsSep 03, 2026
Sydney Evan Celebrates 25 Years With 4 New CollectionsThe “Confetti Disco,” “Champagne Cheers,” “Tuxedo,” and “Classic Punk” jewelry collections each capture a distinct spirit of celebration.
AuctionsSep 02, 2026
If You Love Cats, This Jewelry Auction Is for YouCat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s “significant” collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction.
MajorsSep 02, 2026
Messika Names Former Omega Exec as New President, CEO of AmericasArnaud Michon, the former Omega USA President, will now lead Messika’s Americas region during its international development.
Events & AwardsSep 02, 2026
Emerald’s New Owner Introduces ‘Glitter in the Grove’The branding references the back-to-back jewelry shows that new parent company Forge will host in Miami's Coconut Grove this November.
AuctionsSep 01, 2026
UK Woman Uncovers Rare Patek Philippe Watch in Mom’s Jewelry BoxThe stainless steel Patek Philippe “Calatrava” watch from the 1930s sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent Hansons Cornwall auction.
ColumnistsSep 01, 2026
Your Jewelry Marketing Has a Bridal ProblemEngagement rings are important but don’t ignore the customers who are buying jewelry “just because,” Emmanuel Raheb writes.
MajorsSep 01, 2026
Kering Names New Pomellato, DoDo CEOsFormer Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli has been named president of Kering Italia amid a shakeup of Kering's new Jewelry division.
MajorsSep 01, 2026
Anne Marie Shulman Joins GPA GlobalThe veteran luxury packaging executive was appointed to help the company grow its North American business.
GradingAug 31, 2026
GIA, Gübelin Gem Lab Confirm New Paraíba Tourmaline Deposit in EthiopiaThe labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.
Events & AwardsAug 31, 2026
Wisconsin Museum to Host Jewelry Exhibition“Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective” at the Oshkosh Public Museum will feature works by Fabergé, Lalique, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.
CollectionsAug 31, 2026
Catbird Launches First Men’s Jewelry CollectionThe “Worn Well” collection is Catbird's take on classic men's jewelry.
CollectionsAug 28, 2026
Dolly Parton Would Have Loved This Butterfly Necklace This Buddha Mama butterfly is our Piece of the Week honoring the legend, who embraced the beautiful insect as her symbol.
SourcingAug 28, 2026
Gareth Penny to Give Opening Speech at CIBJO Centenary CongressThe former De Beers CEO, and perhaps its next owner, will be a featured speaker at the event, slated for Sept. 4-7 in Italy.
IndependentsAug 28, 2026
Day’s Jewelers Honored With 3 Workplace AwardsThe employee-owned jeweler was named a “Best Place to Work” in Maine, New Hampshire, and for women.
CollectionsAug 27, 2026
Pandora Expands ‘Talisman’ Collection as Lawsuit Continues The second iteration of the jewelry collection was inspired by the zodiac and the four elements: earth, water, air and fire.
SourcingAug 27, 2026
OFAC Renews License Allowing Import of ‘Grandfathered’ Russian Diamonds General License 104B supersedes General License 104A, which was set to expire on Sept. 1.
CrimeAug 27, 2026
Customs Seizes Nearly 900 Pieces of Counterfeit JewelryThe package, intercepted in Indianapolis, contained fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry.
IndependentsAug 27, 2026
Jessica McCormack to Open First West Coast StoreThe new location in Costa Mesa, California, marks the brand’s second store in the United States and fourth standalone location worldwide.
