Crime

Mich. Jeweler Pleads Guilty in Case Involving Stolen Jewelry

CrimeMar 01, 2018

Mich. Jeweler Pleads Guilty in Case Involving Stolen Jewelry

Rick Currie was arrested earlier this month after leaving his now-closed business with his clients’ jewelry.

Port Huron, Mich.--A former Michigan jeweler has pleaded guilty in a case involving the missing jewelry of more than 150 customers.

According to court documents, 62-year-old Rick Currie pleaded guilty to six counts of larceny by conversion of more than $20,000 on Tuesday in St. Clair County District Court.

He was wanted by the Port Huron Police Department after being evicted Jan. 6 for failure to pay rent at his now-closed store, Rick Currie Master Goldsmiths, and then not returning the jewelry that customers had left in his possession.

The Port Huron police received reports totaling over $300,000 in losses and have said the case involves more than 150 victims.

They issued an arrest warrant for Currie on charges of larceny by conversion. He was arrested in early February near Jasper, Florida and extradited to Michigan.

Police said at the time that the vehicle he was in when he was arrested contained a large amount of stolen jewelry, the value of which is still being determined.

As part of his guilty plea, Currie agreed to make restitution to the victims in a manner to be decided by the county. He also will cooperate with the police in recovering the items belonging to the victims.

He is slated to be sentenced by Circuit Judge Michael West at a later date.

Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

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