$1-Million Ruby Recovered; 5 Arrested
Five men were arrested Friday in Encino after they were caught trying to sell a man the same $1 million ruby that had been stolen from him three years ago, police said.
The recovered 6.76-carat Burmese ruby had been stolen in 1990 from an independent jewelry broker, Los Angeles police said.
After making inquiries about the gem six months ago, the broker met another jewelry broker who claimed to have a ruby similar to the one stolen and then alerted police, Cox said.
The two met at White Oak Avenue and Hatteras Street before driving to a residence near Newcastle Avenue and Ventura Boulevard, which was under police surveillance. There, the victim studied and weighed the ruby, then determined it was the stolen gem.
Ali Reza Paravar, 41, of West Hills was arrested with the ruby. Also arrested were Rasekh Siddiqui, 50, of Chatsworth; Antranik Harbouian, 45, of Montebello; Behzad Saba, 33, of Irvine; and Rasheed Usmani, 33, of Encino.
Each was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property, and they are being held in lieu of $10,000 bail each.
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