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Would you like some cocaine with your emeralds?! Yikes!

ame

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jul 7, 2004
Messages
10,869
Just saw this story on JCK about a Florida jeweler involved in a cocaine/stolen emeralds situation. Two of Colombia's biggest exports all in one crazy bust. I was so expecting a Tony Montana-like situation. Wait, wasn't that character Cuban? Nevermind. My husband said this story reminded him of the "Cocaine Cowboys" and the Godmother.

http://www.jckonline.com/2014/11/18/florida-jeweler-busted-in-emerald-and-cocaine-deal?utm_content=buffer63b3a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

A Florida jeweler and three alleged coconspirators are all facing life in prison after they unwittingly involved an undercover DEA officer in an emerald and cocaine smuggling scheme, according to a federal arrest affidavit.

Marin Spariosu, the owner of Emeralds & Gems LLC in Miami, faces a charge of conspiring to possess with intent to sell 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Also facing the same charge are his alleged coconspirators: Juan Soberon, Stephanie Alonso, and Ben Handa.

The scheme was a complicated one that will need some edits before you see it on TV as a case of the week, but follow along: Spariosu and Soberon worked together and planned to use some $300,000 in emeralds (owned by Handa) as collateral in exchange for 10 kilograms of cocaine (though Spariosu claims it was only 8), which they planned to sell in order to buy more cocaine, according to the affidavit.

The DEA had a tip that Soberon was looking to buy large quantities of cocaine, and an undercover agent met with him and offered his supply. Soberon didn’t have the cash on hand but offered emeralds as collateral. The agent met Spariosu at Joseph W. Tenhagen Appraisals Inc., a gem- appraisal business in Miami, where he was presented with $215,000 worth of emeralds with appraisal documents and told that two more shipments of emeralds, worth $600,000 and $900,000, were due to arrive the next day.

After the agent took the emeralds, Spariosu was arrested. Soberon was arrested after completion of the cocaine drop-off, along with Alonso, who he used as a carrier.

Handa, the original owner of the emeralds, was arrested after Spariosu worked with the DEA to trade 15 kilograms of (fake) cocaine for Handa’s emeralds.

All four involved face life in prison if convicted.
 

WinkHPD

Ideal_Rock
Trade
Joined
May 3, 2001
Messages
7,516
Shamewe are not allowed to just take them out into the desert and shoot them...

Wink, who has NO tolerance for those who would poison my children and grand children or their friends.

Wink
 

kroshka

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jan 30, 2004
Messages
566
Yikes! Boy am I glad they were caught. I wonder when this one will get featured on one of those shows like 48 hours.

Kroshka
 
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