Headlines

Here’s How Long Jewelry-Store Robber Abigail Kemp Will Be in Prison

She admitted to robberies in several states.

Published

7 years ago

January 16, 2017

INSTORE Staff

Abigail Lee Kemp, who pleaded guilty in connection with a jewelry-store robbery spree covering several states, has been ordered to spend the next 10 years in prison. INSTORE AbigailKemp

Her federal prison sentence was handed down in federal court in Panama City, WJHG-TV reports. She admitted to robberies in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

In all, Kemp, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence along with six counts of interfering with commerce by threat.

The crimes, in which $4 million worth of jewelry was stolen, took place in 2015 and 2016.

Another defendant in the crime spree, 43-year-old Larry Gilmore, has been sentenced to 32 years behind bars.

As part of their sentences, Kemp and Larry Gilmore must also pay restitution of $1.5 million.

Still awaiting sentencing are two other men: 47-year-old Michael Gilmore and 36-year-old Lewis Jones III.

Read more at WJHG

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”