High profile jeweler Jacob Arabov, better known in the Hip Hop community as Jacob The Jeweler, was sentenced to 2 1/2 yeas in prison and fined $50,000 in federal court in Detroit today (June 24).
According to the Detroit Free Press, Jacob was convicted of lying to federal agents about owning jewelry seized from a major cocaine trafficker.
Jacob plead guilty in October to concealing ownership of jewelry seized from Terry Flenory, a drug suspect currently serving a 30 month drug sentence.
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“I feel ashamed that I broke the law of this country that’s been so
good to me and my family,” said Jacob to U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn.
Arabov came to the United states a Jewish refugee from Uzbekistan as a teenager, and became a jeweler. Eventually, he opened Jacob and Co., a Manhattan jewelry store whose clients include countless entertainers and celebrities.
Jacob’s sentence begins on January 15, and it has been recommended that he serve in a prison facility in Pennsylvania.
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Arabov was indicted in 2005 for allegedly helping the “Black Mafia Family” and its principals Demetrius and Terry Flenory launder $270 million in drug money. His plea agreement does not require him to testify against other defenders, but he did agree to forfeit $2 million to the government.
Jacob The Jeweler’s creationsare considered by many in the Hip Hop community to be the gold standard for jewelry. He has been refrenced in many songs by artists such as Jay-Z, Wyclef Jean, R. Kelly, Kanye West, Nas, 50 Cent, Fabolous, Royce Da 5’9″ and many more.
