Great Falls-Area Jeweler Accused of Swapping Real Diamonds With Fakes

The owner of Vima Jewelry, located in the Great Falls area, has been accused of offering to clean a customer's diamond jewelry and switching the valuable gem with a glass "stone."

Robert Mikail of Broadlands has been charged with grand larceny, burglarious tools, and grand larceny with intent to re-sell.

The Fairfax County Police Department issued the following press release on Friday:

Police began their initial investigation after receiving a larceny complaint on April 6, 2011. A 23-year-old Vienna woman had taken her collection of jewels to Vima for appraisal. When she returned home, she checked her collection and noticed that a necklace and pendant were missing.

Police received another report on June 6, 2011. A 43-year-old Potomac, Maryland woman reported that Mikail allegedly noticed the victim’s large diamond engagement ring she wore as she browsed the store and offered to clean it while she waited. Mikail reportedly took the ring to the back of the store and returned a short time later. When she arrived home, the victim noticed that the diamond appeared cloudy and damaged. She took the ring to an appraiser who determined that there was no diamond; the “stone” was made of glass.            

A third incident took place on July 6, 2011 when a police employee took over a dozen items of jewelry to be appraised at the store. The items were left at the store; once retrieved the officer took the items to an expert appraiser for close inspection. He determined that one of the diamond rings had been altered; the diamond had been removed and a smaller, lower quality stone inserted.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.