AuctionsJun 26, 2026
‘Hogback’ Diamond Ring Finds a New Home A ring set with “hogback” diamonds, an early stone cut dating to around the 16th century, sold for more than $20,000 at a U.K. auction.
CrimeApr 10, 2019
Man Pleads Guilty in 2013 Traveling Salesman Robbery in PA
Extradited from Colombia to Pittsburgh, Oscar Javier Rodriguez Roa admitted to his role in the theft of $500,000 in gems and jewelry from a salesman’s car.
Pittsburgh—A Colombian man arrested in his home country and extradited to Pittsburgh has pleaded guilty to his role in the 2013 robbery of a traveling jewelry salesman.
According to a press release issued Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Justice, 35-year-old Oscar Javier Rodriguez Roa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery before U.S. Senior District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.
(The Hobbs Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce in any way.)
Rodriguez Roa, a national and citizen of Colombia who previously resided in Atlanta, admitted he was a member of a South American theft ring that targeted traveling jewelry salespersons in the United States and elsewhere.
According to the Justice Department, on or around May 5, 2013, Rodriguez Roa and several accomplices drove from Lawrenceville, Georgia—a suburb of Atlanta—to western Pennsylvania in a rented gray Nissan Maxima.
On May 8, Rodriguez Roa and three unnamed accomplices cornered a traveling jewelry salesman from New York City as he exited his car in the parking lot of a jewelry store in Wexford, just north of Pittsburgh.
Rodriguez Roa smashed the rear driver’s side window of the salesman’s car with a garden tool, the Justice Department said, reached into the car and stole a black shoulder bag containing about $500,000 worth of gemstones and jewelry.
An accomplice punctured the car’s rear driver’s side tire while a second accomplice kept watch over the salesman and the third drove the getaway car.
After the robbery, witnesses followed the Nissan Maxima to a church parking lot.
When the four realized they had been followed, the Justice Department said they drove to a nearby muffler shop where they abandoned the car and fled on foot to a nearby CVS.
Video surveillance from the pharmacy obtained by law enforcement shows Rodriguez Roa and one accomplice entering the store, with Rodriguez Roa talking on a cell phone while the latter was carrying the black shoulder bag with the gemstones and jewelry. The other two accomplices waited outside.
Records from U.S. Customs and Border Protection showed that Rodriguez Roa fled the United States a week after the robbery, on May 16, 2013, boarding a flight from Houston to Bogota, Colombia.
Forensics later connected him to the crime, matching his fingerprints with prints found on the front passenger door of the Nissan Maxima and on a video game console found in the trunk.
He is scheduled
for sentencing on Aug. 12. As part of his plea deal, he faces three to four years in prison, after which time he will be deported, according to local news.
More on Crime
The Latest
CollectionsJun 26, 2026
Strength Is Sharpened Into Beauty in Kris Averi’s ‘Prism Thorn’ RingThe rainbow version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, features angel-cut, octahedral lab-grown sapphires designed to be worn as armor.
MajorsJun 26, 2026
Rembrandt Charms Debuts ‘Charms That Give Back’The new initiative donates a portion of the proceeds from select charms to charitable causes.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
TrendsJun 26, 2026
Bernard James Celebrates Knicks’ Win with RingThe Brooklyn-based jeweler created a limited-edition version of its “Aura” eternity band, set with gemstones in the team’s colors.
Weekly QuizJun 25, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJun 25, 2026
ICA Names Brandee Dallow as CEODallow will lead the International Colored Gemstone Association, effective July 6.
EditorsJun 25, 2026
Out & About: How Jewelers Mutual, SCAD Are Tackling the Bench Jeweler ShortageSenior Editor Lenore Fedow headed to Savannah to learn more about the 10-year, $10 million partnership between JM and the art school.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
CollectionsJun 25, 2026
Mejuri Experiments With SteelIts new capsule jewelry collection features gold-finished stainless steel pieces designed for a maximalist look without a luxury price tag.
Events & AwardsJun 25, 2026
Watches & Wonders Announces 2027 DatesThe week-long event in Geneva is slated for April 2027.
SourcingJun 25, 2026
Annie Doresca, Mark Smelzer, Sara Yood Join Gem Legacy BoardThe three industry leaders bring financial, communications, and legal expertise to the nonprofit’s board of directors.
ColumnistsJun 24, 2026
The Revenue Hiding Between Your Counter and Your Online CartJewelers are missing out by not offering this one key add-on at the online point of sale, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsJun 24, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers, Jewel Boxing’s Latest Drop Is On-TrendThe fourth collaborative collection from the retailer and jewelry content creator focuses on gemstone charms and strands of colorful beads.
Events & AwardsJun 24, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026This year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards will feature two new categories.
SourcingJun 24, 2026
Columbia Gem House To Offer Alexandrite Melee OnlineThe collection features traceable alexandrite from Brazil in calibrated sizes that is sorted by grade.
MajorsJun 24, 2026
CaratLane Names New Chief Sales OfficerDhaval Raja has been appointed to the role.
CollectionsJun 23, 2026
Francesca Villa Goes ‘On the Road’The capsule collection looks to vintage trunk pins that echo the spirit of speed, freedom, and the mythology of the American road trip.
SourcingJun 23, 2026
New Paraíba Tourmaline Source Reportedly Discovered in EthiopiaSSEF issued a notice about the potential new source of the sought-after gemstone, citing “credible reports” from trade sources.
MajorsJun 23, 2026
Etsy Says ‘Shop Other Jeffs’ This Prime DayAs Amazon Prime Day kicks off, Etsy is encouraging shoppers to support small businesses.
Events & AwardsJun 23, 2026
AGA Announces 2026 Scholarship WinnerCole Winward is the recipient of 2026 AGA Gemological Scholarship.
EditorsJun 22, 2026
15 Pieces of Jewelry That Brought Us Joy in Vegas Whether they evoked nostalgia, wonder, or laughter, these jewels put a smile on our faces.
Events & AwardsJun 22, 2026
Plans Announced for New Trade Show in BaselScheduled for April 2027, Basilia will be the first watch and jewelry trade show held in Basel since the collapse of Baselworld in 2020.
Events & AwardsJun 22, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
WatchesJun 22, 2026
Snoopy Inspires New ‘Flying Ace’ Ball WatchThe beloved beagle dons his aviator outfit for the new Engineer Master II Snoopy Flying Ace timepiece.
AuctionsJun 18, 2026
Paraíba Tourmalines Sell for $3.4M at Sotheby'sThe recent high jewelry auction, which also featured the sale of a 10-carat blue diamond, was “a celebration of color.”
CollectionsJun 18, 2026
Michelle Obama Wears Almasika Earrings Symbolizing Feminine PowerShe wore the “Le Cauri Endiamanté” earrings, our Piece of the Week, in the Obamas’ first dual portrait for the Obama Presidential Center.
PodcastsJun 17, 2026
Episode 6: Las Vegas 2026-Trends, Traffic, Broken BathroomsCouture’s Michelle Orman joins Amanda Gizzi and Michelle Graff for this special post-Market Week episode of My Next Question.
