IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
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
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
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
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
MajorsApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
Weekly QuizApr 16, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
MajorsApr 17, 2026
QVC Group Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyThe retailer reported an 8 percent decline in annual sales as it struggles under the weight of billions of dollars of debt.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
CrimeApr 17, 2026
FBI Issues Warning to Refineries, Retailers Due to High Price of GoldThe alert states that burglary crews are targeting jewelry businesses and details how jewelers and refineries can protect themselves.
WatchesApr 16, 2026
Cartier Brings Back the RoadsterThe “watchmaker of shapes” debuted the reworked version of the vintage sports car-inspired timepiece at Watches & Wonders.
IndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership TeamAs demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
MajorsApr 16, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Mountings Catalog Is Out NowThe “Mountings 2026-2027” catalog showcases Stuller’s largest and most diverse assortment to date with more than 400 new mounting styles.
PodcastsApr 15, 2026
Episode 4: The Natural Diamond DilemmaSally Morrison and Mark Klein discuss De Beers’ first beacon in 16 years and the mistake the industry made with lab-grown diamonds.
MajorsApr 15, 2026
Spark Creations’ Randy McKenzie Dies at 72 McKenzie spent 45 years with Spark Creations and is remembered for being kind, dedicated, and hardworking.
WatchesApr 15, 2026
These Are the New Rolex Watches for 2026Rolex focused exclusively on the Oyster Perpetual this year, as the model is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
