(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK – On Saturday, January 20, 2018, the Jewelers’ Security Alliance will host its Annual Luncheon at the Pierre Hotel in New York. At the luncheon JSA will honor three individuals for outstanding assistance to the safety and security of the jewelry industry.
JSA will present the 13th Annual Industry Service Award to Yancy Weinrich, Senior Vice President of JCK Shows at Reed Exhibitions. Weinrich has previously served on the JSA Board, and has been of great assistance to JSA’s innovation and growth, which has helped to make the diamond, jewelry and watch industry safer.
John Kennedy, President of JSA said, “During Yancy’s leadership JCK has been one of the most important supporters of JSA through grants from the JCK Industry Fund. Over the years these grants have allowed JSA to undertake innovative projects to improve the security of the jewelry industry. These projects have included a rewards program for criminal information; an outreach to develop better cooperation with law enforcement agencies outside the U.S.; an initiative to improve mall security; and upgrades to JSA’s media platforms and crime information sharing methods. With this support JSA has been able to keep up with rapidly changing technology and the evolving needs of crime prevention.”
In 2017 Weinrich also began a co-branded, JSNJCK Security Pavilion at the Las Vegas JCK Show. Kennedy said, “Having a dedicated Security Pavilion at the most important U.S. jewelry trade show provides a unique opportunity for jewelers to learn more about security products and services, and to acquire the equipment they need to keep them safe. No other jewelry show provides this opportunity.”
At the Luncheon JSA will also present the 19th Annual James B. White Award jointly to FBI Special Agent Daniel Gimenez of the FBI Dallas Division, and Special Agent Mario S. Aguilar of the FBI Houston Violent Crimes Task Force. These two Special Agents were the lead investigators that resulted in the charging of 18 suspects that are believed to be responsible for 19 robberies of traveling diamond and jewelry salespersons in FL, OK, TX and VA over the last few years. The suspects are in custody, including four in Colombia, South America, who were arrested on U.S. warrants by police in Colombia. The losses totaled $3,500,000, and the suspects have been indicted on Hobbs Act Robbery, Conspiracy and firearms charges. One of the robberies in TX resulted in the death of a traveling salesperson.
Special Agent Aguilar has also assisted the jewelry industry by being an invited speaker on security at a number of local meetings of AGS Guilds throughout the U.S.
Kennedy said, “JSA honors these agents and their FBI superiors for carrying out an intense and successful investigation resulting in the arrest of violent gang members who carried out a reign of terror on traveling diamond and jewelry salespersons, resulting in millions in losses, and the death of one traveling jeweler.”