Jeweler Accused of Staging Robbery

Authorities say a jewelry story owner in Miami faked an armed robbery at his business.

Levon Papikyan, owner of Deroso Jewelry, faces a count of filing a false report, NBC 6 reports. The charge is a misdemeanor.

Police say two customers handed over four gold bars to Papikyan, and he was supposed to sell them. Instead, on the same day, he told police that someone robbed him in the store using pepper spray, taking the gold.

The gold bars were reported to be worth $80,000, according to NBC 6.

David Bolton, a private investigator, is working with the victims to locate the gold bars.

“It’s a lot of money and it seems he’s making a mockery of our justice system,” Bolton told the news station.

Papikyan, 46, was arrested but is now free on bond and was back at Deroso early this week.

Find out more at NBC 6