A jewelry store owner in Knoxville, TN, recently received a call from a broker asking if he’d ordered $150,000 in diamonds.
He hadn’t.
The owner told police, who began an investigation, Knox News reports. Authorities set up surveillance at the shipping company’s pickup area and on Wednesday, Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler announced the arrest of four people.
It’s believed that the individuals “had scammed the broker and used the jewelry store’s information to place the false order,” according to Knox News.
Authorities have not said where the diamonds originated.
Spangler said similar crimes have occurred elsewhere in the Southeast.
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“These people are obviously involved in other cases and that’s why this case is going to continue for a while,” he said.
Arrested were Corey Smith, Ariana Jenkins, Quintaisha Torshe-Sullivan and Octavia Smith.
They were all charged with:
- Computer crime.
- Identity theft.
- Attempted theft.
Watch the sheriff’s press conference below.
Read more at Knox News
Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration
After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years."
Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations.
The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.
