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Former Oregon Jeweler Sentenced to 20 Years for $800,000 Theft Scheme September 26, 2024 (0 comments)
Portland, OR--A former Salem jeweler has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting to defrauding customers of nearly $800,000 in gemstones, jewelry and cash.
[Representative image via istockphoto.com]
According to a report in KOIN, Douglas Wayne Gamble, once the owner of Timeless Jewelers, pleaded guilty to 21 counts of theft and fraud involving 19 customers over four years.
From 2018 to 2022, Gamble's customers began reporting missing property and money, often tied to jewelry design, repair, or consignment contracts. Some claimed that natural diamonds were switched with lab-grown stones or synthetic substitutes.
The report stated that others never saw their items again after leaving them with Gamble's shop for repair or consignment. Timeless Jewelers closed in October 2022 without warning, and customers were left without valuables.
The report noted Gamble was arrested in September 2023 after authorities identified 27 victims, with losses estimated between $700,000 and $800,000, according to the Salem Police Department.
In addition to theft charges, Gamble pleaded guilty to criminal mistreatment involving the theft of $380,000 from a family member. Restitution for the victims is expected to exceed $500,000.
Learn more in this article in KOIN.