Police say a Tennessee man allegedly tried to sell a stolen $95,000 ring to a Georgia jeweler.
Police responded to a call from Celestial Jewelers in Acworth, GA, on Nov. 4 “in reference to a person attempting to sell a stolen item from Chattanooga, Tennessee,” the Acworth Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.
Police met with store employees “and learned that Brandon McNeece out of Whitwell, Tennessee (41 YOA W/M) attempted to sell a 9.46 carat diamond valued at $95,000.00 to Celestial Jewelers.”
According to police:
Upon reviewing a picture of a partial Certificate of Authenticity, the store owners noticed a different name and with an address out of Hixson, Tennessee. The store owners were able to locate a phone number of the owner and discovered that the diamond was stolen out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. After further investigating, officers verified this through Chattanooga, Tennessee that the diamond was stolen. Officers also learned that the motorcycle McNeece rode on this location was also stolen.
McNeece was charged with theft by bringing stolen property into the state, receiving stolen property greater than $1,500, possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine. He was held at the Cobb County jail with a $110,000 bond.
Celestial Jewelers wrote in a Facebook post: “We tracked down the real owners and distracted the thieves until the Acworth police showed up and took them into custody. There is a 90 year old lady that is super happy she is getting her ring back! So glad we could help recover such an important heirloom!”