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Former jeweler charged with embezzlement, theft
A man who once owned a jewelry store in the upscale San Diego suburb of La Jolla was charged and arraigned this week on 14 felony counts after police found 47 pieces of jewelry at his house that had been reported stolen by customers, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office said.
La Jolla, Calif.--A man who once owned a jewelry store in the upscale San Diego suburb of La Jolla was charged and arraigned this week on 14 felony counts after police found 47 pieces of jewelry at his house that had been reported stolen by customers, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office said.
Karl Winchell, who used to run Winchell Jewelry Designs, closed his shop last June after San Diego police began looking into his business practices when claims were filed that he scammed customers out of thousands of dollars in jewelry and cash, La Jolla Light reported Wednesday.
At Winchell’s house, police found 47 pieces of jewelry worth about $40,000 that matched the description of jewelry reported by customers as being stolen or misappropriated. Victims are being given a chance to identify their jewelry from the lot found in the former jeweler’s home.
One victim told the Light he had given Winchell a ring to sell, and after 17 months had not seen any money or gotten the ring back. It wasn’t until he filed a small claims court judgment against the former jeweler for $10,000 that he was paid for his piece, plus an additional $600 in interest and court fees.
The case is being handled by the San Diego District Attorney Office’s Economic Crimes Division for prosecution.
Friday morning, the office said that Winchell has been charged with a total of 14 felonies, including grand theft and merchant embezzlement. Police said Winchell also could be charged with elder abuse, as some of his victims are older than 65.
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