Sheriff holds 180,000-carat emerald

upi ^ | Dec. 27, 2008 | staff

[xcamel]

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says it is holding an emerald estimated to be worth as much as $370 million while the stone's owner is determined.

A department spokesman said the 850-pound gem will be in safekeeping until a federal judge determines who rightfully owns it.

The "Bahia Emerald" was reported stolen in September from a secured vault in South El Monte, Calif.

CNN reported the emerald has been at the center of a dispute between a California man who claimed ownership, a company with which he contracted to sell it and a potential buyer.

It is alleged the gemstone's owner tried to go around the broker, who received a $19 million offer, and sell the emerald to the same buyer for $75 million.

The Brazilian stone was located in a Las Vegas warehouse, where the person in possession claimed to be the rightful owner, Los Angeles Sheriff's Lt. Thomas Grubb said.

A federal judge ordered the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to hold the 180,000-carat emerald until he can sort out the legal issues, Grubb said.

Similar to:

[wastedyears]

I hope they have 24/7 security that is better than a beat cop.

Maybe like a small contingent of Marines.

[fella]

—sounds about like media estimates of numbers of people at left-wing marches in Washington, DC—

You mean like the 20 to 550 million that are expected to show up there on the 20th of next month?

[rellimpank]

—yep—or “estimates of the projects’ cost range from $20 billion to $300 billion”—

[P8riot]

I had a girlfriend, many years ago, whose eyes were that color. Her stares could burn holes in your soul. She married my best friend, they have six kids and now she weighs close to 300lbs.

[wastedyears]

A department spokesman said the 850-pound gem will be in safekeeping until a federal judge determines who rightfully owns it.

This is just wonderful, a federal judge to declare who the owner of this is. I'm sure he'd love to declare the state the owner of it.

[rellimpank]

----and the reporter is a moron--

--redundancy alert--

[freekitty]

Can I apply for ownership? It’s hard to find a good emerald. LOL

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

naw - just half of it in sales tax, plus luxury tax and windfall profit tax.

I’m sure the real owner can have what left after court costs and lawyer fees.

[Huskrrrr]

Thank God someone found my emerald! I’ve been looking everywhere for it!

[chris_bdba]

Oh gee I didn’t realize it was gone! Please send it to......!

[concentric circles]

[tajgirvan]

Personal exeperince or just don’t like LEO’s in general?

[stefanbatory]

so those green things are emeralds? *goes to fill hole back in*

[the invisib1e hand]

I don't think I'd trust any of the players in this one.

[tajgirvan]

Sorry, should be experience

[tubebender]

Just Darn BG... I really wanted to get this small token of my appreciation to you on Christmas Day. In the meantime I will send a box of Crackers that has only been opened twice until I sort this out with the Nigerian authorities...

[Brad’s Gramma]

Why THANK youuu!

[john in springfield]

That's the second largest emerald I've ever seen!

[Billthedrill]

department spokesman said the 850-pound gem will be in safekeeping until a federal judge determines who rightfully owns it.

Dibs!

[kcvl]

The so-called “Bahia Emerald” was recovered last Friday in Las Vegas, according to a sheriff’s department news release.

The gem was stolen from a secured vault in South El Monte in September and later warehoused in the Nevada gambling town, said Lt. Thomas Grubb of the sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28394645/