Queens jeweler STANISLAV YAKUBOV, a/k/a ‘Steve,’ has been convicted by a jury in Manhattan for his involvement in a brazen luxury watch robbery and money laundering scheme. The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, announced that Yakubov was found guilty on three counts, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and making false statements to federal law enforcement agents.
The heist spree targeted jewelers from Manhattan’s Diamond District and beyond, with watches worth over $3 million stolen in total. Yakubov, 42, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos.
Prosecutors revealed that Yakubov conspired with others to purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of diamond-encrusted watches stolen during violent robberies. The victims included jewelers from Yakubov’s own community, a chilling detail highlighted by the prosecution. ‘Stanislav Yakubov agreed to purchase these stolen watches, fueling a year-long spree of criminal activity,’ said U.S. Attorney Williams.
Some of the high-profile robberies and attempted robberies included:
- October 3, 2019: A Long Island City jeweler was robbed of a $150,000 Richard Mille watch.
- October 25, 2019: A Jamaica jeweler lost a $118,000 Rolex watch.
- January 14, 2020: A Rego Park jeweler’s $500,000 Richard Mille watch was stolen.
In addition to the thefts, Yakubov made false statements to federal law enforcement officers during the investigation. He claimed that he never purchased any watches from the robbery crew and that the robbers were merely customers who had purchased jewelry from him in the past. Yakubov’s lies did not deter justice; his conviction is a stark reminder of the consequences of dealing in stolen property.
If you believe you know the whereabouts of any of the stolen watches, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York at 1-866-874-8900 and reference this case.
RELATED: Queens Jeweler Stanislav Yakubov Convicted in $1M Watch Heist Scheme
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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