Tracy Man Convicted In High-End Craigslist Jewelry Heist Conspiracy
OAKLAND, Calif. (CBS13/AP) - A Northern California man has been convicted of participating in an elaborate jewelry robbery ring that used online ad service Craigslist to lure victims, prosecutors announced Friday.
The U.S. Department of Justice said that a federal jury in Oakland convicted Michael Anthony Martin, 42, of Tracy, of five counts of robbery. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Martin is one of five men charged with operating a ring that stole $500,000 worth of high-end jewelry from victims in six states during a one-year period ending in December 2013.
The suspects would contact sellers on Craigslist who were advertising high-priced jewelry: 2- and 3-carat diamond rings, Rolex and Cartier watches all ranging from $10,000 to $200,000 apiece.
A search warrant at the time of his arrest says the alleged robbers would lure the sellers across the country, purchasing plane tickets and renting limos to pick them up at the airport. They would then ambush them in the limos at gunpoint.
Martin's attorney Paul Demeester said he will appeal the verdict after sentencing.
Three of Martin's alleged collaborators were previously convicted and received prison sentences ranging from 3 1/2 years to nearly six years. A fifth alleged member has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
Prosecutors allege that crew members sometimes posed as music producers when contacting victims posting jewelry for sale on Craigslist. Other times, they would pose as young men in the market for engagement rings.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
