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PARIS — Nine years ago TV reality star Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in Paris
Thieves broke into her luxury rented apartment in the middle of the night
tied her up and made away with $10 million in jewelry
That included a $4 million engagement ring from rapper Kanye West (who now goes by Ye)
The alleged thieves were caught and their trial began this week
It pits the reality TV star against old-style, aging bandits — the "grandpa robbers," as the French press calls them
The 11 men and one woman came on foot and bike — dressed as police officers
to trick the doorman at Kardashian's apartment in Paris during Fashion Week in October 2016
He had already served 20 years in prison for burglary
"I told myself this was really the last time
But a 20-karat diamond without protection — that was tempting," he said in an interview with French broadcaster TF1
Kardashian had been vaunting it to her with more than 300 million followers on Instagram
His getaway bike had a flat tire and his bag of jewels got caught on the bike and ripped
A $24,000 diamond cross necklace fell into the gutter and was found the next day by a passerby who wore it until she turned it in
with nicknames like Old Omar and Blue Eyes
used tape and velcro to restrain Kardashian and left their DNA everywhere
lawyer for the security guard who was tied up and now has PTSD
says it might seem humorous but it is serious
"It's theft and violence with guns and bondage," he says
Kardashian described the night as the worst moment of her life
Her $4 million diamond ring was never found
She will return to Paris to testify in mid-May
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But two federal auditors with years of experience
who have both worked on financial and technical audits for the government
say that DOGE’s actions are the furthest thing from what an actual audit looks like
Both asked to speak on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t permitted to speak to the press
comparing real auditing to what DOGE is doing
there’s no comparison,” says one of the auditors who spoke to WIRED
saying he’d aim to cut $1 trillion in government spending
he has alleged that much of this money can be cut by identifying waste
and has continued to claim DOGE’s cuts of agency staff and resources are all part of an audit
The auditors who spoke to WIRED allege that not only is Musk’s claim not true
but also that DOGE appears to have completely eschewed the existing processes for actually rooting out waste
“An audit that follows Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS)
is conducted in accordance with the standards issued by the US Government Accountability Office,” says the first auditor
“That is the gold standard for how you audit the government.”
the auditors can follow up with the agency to ensure changes are being made
There are also very technical definitions for what constitutes waste
Waste could mean that there are inefficiencies in a program that might lead to purchasing more of something that goes unused
or paying more for a service than is necessary
Fraud involves intentional deception—for instance
Abuse means doing things that aren’t necessarily illegal
This could look like nepotism or favoritism in hiring
In a recent interview with podcaster Joe Rogan
Musk said he believed that the government was “one big pyramid scheme” and alleged that “entitlements fraud” is a “gigantic magnetic force to pull people in from all around the world and keep them here.”
The two auditors told WIRED that going through the technological and financial minutiae of even just a single project or part of an agency can take anywhere from six to 18 months
“You can’t coherently audit something like the whole Social Security system in a week or two,” says the second auditor. It’s exactly this rush to crack systems open without full understanding, the auditors say, that has led to Elon Musk’s false claims that 150-year-olds were receiving Social Security benefits
“It could be that DOGE didn’t de-dupe the data.”
“In no uncertain terms is this an audit,” claims the second auditor
stealing a vast amount of government data.”
And without time spent for auditors to understand a new data system—like interviewing agency staff or learning the coding language—the first auditor believes it’s likely the DOGE team is flying blind
they don't get it with any sort of description
“There are no terms of use for any government systems … There's no supporting testimony from data system owners
They don't even know the language and the database systems that they're working in
The auditors described a lengthy vetting process that allowed them to get the permissions necessary to dive into an agency’s data and systems
In addition to going through the initial vetting process
the auditors say that they are required to engage in continuing education
“None of them have any auditing background
none have any clearances,” says the first auditor
come directly from Musk’s own companies and were not fully vetted before their start dates
“They'll end up costing more in some way
when asked about how his team was identifying what to go after in the government
“We look at the president's executive orders
putting a pause on several ongoing projects to make government services more efficient for users
that best show that DOGE’s intentions may not be geared toward “efficiency” at all
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment
In your inbox: Will Knight's AI Lab explores advances in AI
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a nation of benevolent AI geniuses could be born
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Special Edition: The most dangerous hackers you’ve never heard of
It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation
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This three-part documentary about the attempt to steal hundreds of millions of pounds’ worth of diamonds is pacey and stylish – but it definitely didn’t need to glamorise the real-life violence
Strictly speaking, Richie himself is not telling it; the three-part documentary The Diamond Heist comes from Oscar and Emmy award-winning company Lightbox and is executive produced by Ritchie. But the subject matter is so perfectly him that any meaningful separation in your mind as you watch it collapses quicker than a Greenwich exhibition venue’s shutters under the weight of a JCB driven at speed by a man intent on a multimillion pound payday.
Wenham took his daughter Beth for a day out at the dome. As an exhibition space and entertainment venue he “thought it was shit”. But there were possibilities offered by the diamond display and the fact that – as the De Beers head of security put it as part of his argument against the company’s decision to loan out the jewels – the dome was “a tent with a flat concrete floor.”
More From NBC
ShareBy Shaun Nichols(Adobe Stock)
A California man agreed to plead guilty to two criminal charges related to a leak at the Disney company that resulted in more than a terabyte of confidential files and communications logs being exposed
The Department of Justice announced that Ryan Kramer of Santa Clarita
compromised an employee workstation and then leveraged those stolen credentials to gain access to further systems within the children’s entertainment empire
The 25-year-old also awaits sentencing for one count of threatening to damage a protected computer
Each felony count carries a maximum of five years in federal prison
though such tough sentences are rarely handed down in these cases
the attacks began with a poisoned GitHub package aimed at developers and artists
The project presented itself as an AI-powered image generation tool that would
appeal to those who worked at a major animation studio such as Disney
The GitHub project contained a secret bit of nastiness within its payload
Kramer embedded a backdoor into the user’s system
The hacker struck gold between April and May of 2024 when a Disney employee download and executed the malicious payload
It is believed that Kramer then used that backdoor into the victim’s machine to harvest their network and online credentials for various Disney platforms
including multiple company Slack chats and confidential data storage
prosecutors say that Kramer was able to soak up some 1.1 TB worth of company data and Slack chat logs
Armed with 1.1 TB worth of internal information
Claiming to be a member of the Russian-based hacking group NullBulge
he told the victim that unless a ransom was paid
It should be noted that officials said Kramer only claimed affiliation with NullBulge and was, apparently, not an actual member of the group. This is likely the case as many hacktivist groups in Russia have moved on to bigger and better things as of late
When the victim did not respond to the threats
Kramer then proceeded to completely dox the victim
and other personal details across multiple platforms
It is believed that at least two other people downloaded Kramer's malicious GitHub project and had their systems remotely compromised
No word was given on the extent to which those victims’ data might have been harvested
but the FBI is said to still be investigating the matter
The guilty plea wraps up what has been a busy week for the federal government, in terms of law enforcement. Earlier in the day, officials announced a pair of big moves in the form of an $8.4 million data breach penalty against Raytheon and a rare extradition win in its case against an alleged Ukrainian malware operator
Shaun has spent 17 years covering the industry with a specialty in the cybersecurity field
SC StaffMay 2
a news site by cybersecurity firm Recorded Future
reports that Apple has alerted users in 100 countries that their devices were targeted by sophisticated spyware
part of a global wave of mercenary surveillance attacks
Tom Spring May 2
SANS Institute experts warned that rising attack complexity
and AI over regulation are converging into a perfect storm — and defenders may already be outpaced
Laura FrenchMay 1
Organizations can’t assume apps from the Apple and Google Play stores have been tested for security
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TROY, Mich. – An attempted Jeep theft at a Troy dealership resulted in the arrest of six people.
According to authorities, police responded to reports of a break-in at the Suburban Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Troy dealership on Maplelawn Road just before 4:30 a.m. on April 22. Police said an employee saw four people enter the service bay and attempt to take one of the vehicles.
When officers arrived, they reportedly found the suspects attempting to drive a Jeep Grand Wagoneer through the service’s roll-up door.
Officers who were in the area before the break-in reported seeing a Saab and a Chrysler 300 driving around. It’s believed these vehicles were acting as lookouts during the breaking and entering.
Police reportedly found the Saab in the apartment complex just north of the dealership. Its only occupant was arrested for driving with a suspended license.
Royal Oak police found the Chrysler 300 on I-696, near Dequindre Road.
Using the dealership’s surveillance footage, police were able to identify the four people who entered the building.
In total, six people were arrested and five people were charged. The sixth was cited for driving with a suspended license.
James Jovon Dorsey has been charged with unlawful driving away of an automobile, breaking and entering, conspiracy to commit larceny over $20,000 and two counts of malicious destruction of property.
Stephanie Marie Cruz-Mena was charged with conspiracy to commit larceny over $20,000.
Amari Davier Harris was charged with breaking and entering, conspiracy to commit larceny over $20,000 and possession of burglary tools.
Jadin Lorenzo Robinson and Giovionni Gary Blessmen were both charged with breaking and entering and conspiracy to commit larceny over $20,000.
All five suspects have their probable cause conference scheduled for May 6.
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Dane Kelly is an Oreo enthusiast and producer who has spent the last seven years covering Michigan news and stories.
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Adam Peters knew what he wanted from the draft. He also knew how important it was for the Washington Commanders to make the most of their five selections after opting not to trade down for additional resources
The Commanders' choices have been largely well-received by fans and analysts alike
One intriguing addition is gaining more positive plaudits than most
Add Bucky Brooks from NFL.com to the list of those who believe the Commanders struck gold with cornerback Trey Amos
The draft aficionado believes Washington found the perfect fit for what they are trying to build defensively
He's also anticipating the former Ole Miss standout to make an instant impression if he transitions smoothly over the summer
Adding more physicality was a big priority for Peters this offseason
The Commanders don't want to be caught short against the Philadelphia Eagles or other potential NFC challengers next time around
Amos gives the secondary another boundary option capable of setting the tone through aggression and accomplished athleticism
First-year cornerbacks tend to go through some growing pains initially
The margins get finer and the level of opposition increases exponentially
Taking the rough with the smooth would be wise where Amos is concerned over his opening few contests
but the gifted corner should grow in stature as the campaign progresses
The Commanders felt taking Amos was a can't-miss opportunity late in the second round
Peters considered the defensive back at No
29 overall before offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr
That shows how highly regarded he was in the building
Having someone capable of jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage and getting them off their routes will be essential opposite Marshon Lattimore
This will also allow Mike Sainristil to spend more time in the slot
which is where his exceptional skills are best suited
With Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene also on the cornerback rotation
this looks like a potentially productive fivesome who can help Washington's defense reach new heights in 2025
Peters knows what a good player looks like
He also knows the sort of characters he wants to bring into his roster regeneration
This should inspire enough confidence in Amos heading into his first year as a fledgling Commanders star
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Add Bucky Brooks from NFL.com to the list of those who believe the Commanders struck gold with cornerback Trey Amos
Trey Amos is gaining significant plaudits heading into his rookie campaign
By Jeremy Kay2025-05-02T23:32:00+01:00
EXCLUSIVE: Production has wrapped in Detroit on Haunted Heist
the horror comedy starring Tiffany Haddish
and Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor that marks the second production from Terrifier franchise sales agent The Coven
Lil Rel Howery directs the story of four estranged friends who reunite at a seemingly typical house
one friend intends to steal a valuable antique
However the place is haunted and the group must overcome their differences to survive a night of mischievous ghosts
Carl Reid wrote the screenplay and Howery also stars
Haunted Heist is expected to be ready in time for Halloween season
The company produced alongside Death Ground Films (The Mill
This is The Coven’s second production after Canadian exorcism thriller Shadow Of God
which launched on the Shudder streaming service in April
The shooting scheduled remained flexible to allow the actors
to make weekend appearances and fulfil their comedy tours
Haddish and Bachelor surprised unsuspecting fans at comedy clubs throughout Detroit
“I loved filming in Detroit,” said Haddish
“History was all around me and there was no traffic.”
Although Michigan state’s 42% production incentive ended in 2015
the producers wanted to film in the region to take advantage of historic locations
“By leveraging our established infrastructure and longstanding relationships within the community
we were able to enhance the production value and authentically reflect the spirit of the city on screen,” said producer Jesse Ford
The Coven’s Priscilla Ross Smith and Kendall Anlian serve as executive producers are alongside Robinwood7’s Feras M
Bookmark this page to keep track of all the latest festival dates
The posting on Trump’s Truth Social platform is sending shockwaves around the world
US industry frantically working out possible next steps
’Thunderbolts*’ has achieved the third-biggest opening number for a US studio film in 2025
Bookmark this page and keep track of the latest film release dates in the UK & Ireland
CAD $90,000 in cash and prizes presented at Friday’s ceremony in Toronto
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during which she fought back tears as she recalled her fears of being raped that night."They kept on saying 'the ring
the ring'," Kardashian said."I kept looking at the concierge," she continued
referring to the concierge of the exclusive building who had been forced at gunpoint to lead the gang to her apartment
I have to get home'."DNA traces found on plastic bands used to tie the wrists of Kardashian helped police make arrests the following January.In total
nine men and one woman are being tried by the criminal court
Five of them - all men - face armed robbery and kidnapping charges and potentially risk being sentenced to life imprisonment
The others are charged with complicity in the heist or the unauthorised possession of a weapon.As the robbers escaped on foot or with bikes
which a passerby found in the street and brought to the police
were never found.One of the suspects is dead and another is too ill to be put on trial at this time
prosecutors said.Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and Lucien Libert; additional reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro
Makini Brice; Writing by Richard Lough and Ingrid Melander; Editing by Helen Popper and Ros Russell
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one of the men accused in the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian
who was working as a hotel receptionist and was allegedly held at gunpoint by the robbers during the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian
Defendant in the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian Gary Madar arrives at the palace of justice Monday
talks top the press at the palace of justice Monday
shakes hands with his lawyer Gabriel Dumenil outside the palace of justice Monday
Reporters cover the opening day of the trial of the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian
gives a phone call outside the palace of justice Monday
face reporters at the palace of justice Monday
Kim Kardashian West arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York
American television and social media personality,socialite
and model Kim Kardashian attends the Cannes Lions 2015
International Advertising Festival in Cannes
Kim Kardashian arrives at the fourth annual Academy Museum Gala on Saturday
at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles
leaves during a break at the palace of justice Monday
The robbery was considered the biggest heist targeting an individual that Paris had seen in decades
The jury of six citizens will conduct the trial along with three magistrates — a procedure in France reserved for the most serious crimes
thinking she would be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom and pointed a gun at her
Her lawyers said she will testify in person
The trial is scheduled to run through May 23
Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time,” they said
“She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities.”
In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show
Kardashian tearfully recalled thinking: “This is the time I’m going to get raped
Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box
One has died and another is seriously ill and can’t be tried
five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery
The French press has dubbed them “The Granddad Robbers” because the main defendants are older and have been bank robbers with long criminal records
Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom and placed in the bathtub
and she freed herself by removing the tape
She rushed to her stylist’s room and called her sister Kourtney
Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured
adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children
According to her testimony and that of the concierge
at least one suspect had a handgun with which he threatened the victims
the lawyer representing Abderrahmane Ouatiki
determined criminals who did not hesitate to threaten him while he was working nights to finance his studies.”
The gangsters stole many pieces of jewelry estimated to be worth $6 million
Only one piece — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects’ escape — has been recovered
Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime
is one of two who allegedly entered the apartment
Nicknamed “Old Omar,” his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian
said his client is pleading guilty because he acknowledges his participation and “will apologize
how he was contacted and finally how the events unfolded.”
will answer the court’s questions in writing
who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station
said his client aims to “deliver his own truth and explain the reasons that prompted him to do this and simply perhaps also ask for forgiveness and express his remorse.”
Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision
he co-authored a French-language book titled “I Sequestered Kim Kardashian.”
known as “Blue Eyes,” is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat
He denies involvement although he was filmed by CCTV cameras
and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement
The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment or accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewelry in Antwerp
Alexander Turnbull and Nicolas Garriga contributed to the story
This version corrects to say the total value of the stolen jewelry was estimated to be worth $6 million
Yunice Abbas claims he acted as lookout in Paris hotel lobby while US celebrity’s jewellery was taken at gunpoint
A 71-year-old man who has said he played a bit part in a jewellery heist in which Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in 2016 has said he “totally regretted” having participated
Yunice Abbas is one of 10 people on trial in Paris for having taken part in the robbery on the night of 2-3 October
He said he had remained in a Paris hotel lobby on the lookout while two other suspects stormed into the US celebrity’s room
tied her up and made away with $10m (£7.5m) worth of her jewels
Sitting in the dock in a short-sleeved check shirt, Abbas shook his head vigorously. “It makes me very uneasy,” he said, adding that he “totally regretted” taking part in the theft.
Abbas said he had arrived at the scene of the robbery on a bicycle and left by the same means, dropping a bag of stolen items as he fled. He picked it up but missed a diamond necklace, the only item that police were able to retrieve from the holdup.
Abbas told the hearing on Tuesday that stealing from Kardashian had been one job “too many” and that it had “opened his eyes” to his wrongdoing.
The defendant, who now has Parkinson’s disease, held his right hand over his left placed on his heart throughout the court session. He said it was to stop it from racing when he became anxious.
The presiding judge on Tuesday reviewed the accused’s criminal past.
He listed, among others, a conviction for fake number plates for carrying out robberies, another for equipping cars with secret compartments to hide cannabis and a third for armed robbery in which Abbas held a gun.
Read moreBetween, he worked as a car mechanic. Abbas said that he had had “moments of weakness” when he needed money. “I fell back on things that I thought were easy shortcuts but only ended up complicating my life,” he said.
Abbas, like all other nine defendants, is not in custody.
Kardashian, 44, is due to testify on 13 May.
Those on trial – nine men and a woman – are mainly in their 60s and 70s with previous criminal records and underworld nicknames such as Old Omar and Blue Eyes.
But the lawyer for one of the victims on Monday was eager to dispel the image of “kind old men” on trial for the robbery during Paris fashion week.
Henri de Beauregard, who represents the night receptionist forced to accompany the robbers to Kardashian’s room, said the public must not fall for the “myth of friendly, Robin Hood-style pensioners”.
Print The FBI is now working with Los Angeles police to investigate a jewelry heist that involved thieves tunneling through multiple walls to break into a downtown Los Angeles jewelry store over the weekend
Millions of dollars in gold and jewels were stolen from a downtown jeweler’s two enormous safes after burglars tunneled into the Broadway shop through multiple reinforced walls
a massive drill can be heard carving through the main castlelike wall
making a hole big enough for a person to slip through to enter Love Jewels
The Los Angeles Police Department says the thieves Sunday night cut through a room next to the gold merchant in the 500 block of Broadway
LAPD officials said the owners informed the department that about $10 million worth of merchandise was taken
The FBI’s major theft task force is assisting LAPD in the investigation
who oversees the department’s central division
said the thieves tunneled into the building through the Roxy
“They went through some really thick old walls
They went into one small room and then through a second wall,” Jovel said
Jovel said initially it was thought only about $5 million in jewelry was stolen
but officials now believe north of $10 million was taken
In recent years, burglars have entered jewelry stores through rooftops, Joven said. Tunneling, although rare, isn’t unheard of. Thieves tunneled into a business in the Fashion District, Joven said. In Northern California, thieves last summer stole dozens of guns by tunneling into a store.
is known for being the source of bling for rappers
the store boasts images of personal necklace tributes
M-4 trinkets and enormous racks of gold chains
On Easter weekend in March of last year, thieves stole as much as $30 million from GardaWorld’s Sylmar cash storage facility. Los Angeles police responded to three alarms at the facility during the biggest heist in the city’s history on Easter weekend, but the criminals remained undetected.
In the latest downtown tunnel caper, LAPD investigators say the burglars, after entering, cut the security camera feed, and there are no images of them inside the business. However, LAPD forensic experts are examining the scene for fingerprints and DNA.
LAPD investigators examined recordings and determined the heist began about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, but the burglary crew could have begun cutting into adjacent properties earlier. The jewelers discovered the theft Monday morning when they arrived at their shop.
Investigators believe the likely high-level professional burglars spent several hours inside the business. The modus operandi of such a crime has already helped narrow the potential suspects in the heist.
Burglars have taken to digging their way into vaults since at least the 1980s. Back then, there was a crew known as the Hole in the Ground Gang that tunneled under three L.A.-area banks, zipping around underground in all-terrain vehicles. They broke into two of the banks, making off with about $270,000 and the contents of safe-deposit boxes potentially worth millions.
In March of 2024, thieves tried to tunnel into a jeweler at the Topanga Canyon Plaza in Chatsworth. According to the LAPD, the owner was working and triggered the robbery alarm to get police to respond. The thieves had broken through multiple walls in a neighboring salon and another business to reach the jeweler’s interior wall.
Richard Winton is an investigative crime writer for the Los Angeles Times and part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2011. Known as @lacrimes on Twitter, during almost 30 years at The Times he also has been part of the breaking news staff that won Pulitzers in 1998, 2004 and 2016.
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Sophie Grace Clark is a Live News reporter based in London, with a focus on crime stories. She has also covered politics and entertainment extensively. Sophie joined Newsweek in 2024 from a freelance career and had previously worked at The Mail on Sunday, The Daily Star, OK Magazine, and MyLondon. She is a graduate of Middlebury College. You can get in touch with Sophie by emailing sg.clark@newsweek.com
either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter
or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources
Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content
A man is facing about two to eight years in state prison after being found guilty of stealing more than $7,000 worth of diamonds from Walmart
Matthew Patrick Gay was sentenced for multiple offenses
including retail theft and default in required appearance—both felonies of the third degree—after being found guilty of stealing seven diamond rings worth $7,362.50 from a Walmart in Athens
Bradford County District Attorney Richard Wilson said Gay's criminal history of "thievery" led to his lengthy prison sentence
Newsweek has contacted Wilson for further comment via Facebook
Gay faced similar charges in New York that were dismissed
meaning Pennsylvania is the only state where he is set to serve a prison sentence
Gay was caught on camera stealing the rings on several occasions
His modus operandi was asking a salesperson to look at a specific diamond ring
he swapped the ring out for a fake from his pocket
His conviction stems from burglaries that occurred a few years ago
as Gay was originally charged with felony retail theft by the Athens Township Police Department in 2022
he did not appear at his sentencing hearing
meaning a default in required appearance count was added to his existing charges
Gay was convicted on similar charges in Berks County
He was sentenced there to between five and 24 months in prison
where he was "sentenced to an overall minimum of 23 months plus 258 days to a maximum of 95 months in State Prison for multiple offenses," Wilson wrote on Facebook
Gay also faced grand larceny charges in New York "for doing the same thing," the district attorney added
Bradford County District Attorney Richard Wilson wrote on Facebook: "Gay's criminal history includes more than two dozen offenses of this nature
a lengthy State Prison sentence is appropriate
It appears to be the only way we can protect society from Matthew Gay's thievery."
Gay faces a maximum sentence of more than seven years in prison
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground
Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair
Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter.
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Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro; Editing by Richard Lough and Alison Williams
Juliette covers matters related to justice, social issues and security -– that spans race, immigration, discrimination, sexual violence and more. She has covered some of the biggest trials taking place in France in recent years and reported investigative stories on identity politics.
one of the suspects accused of being involved in Kim Kardashian’s October 2016 robbery in Paris
admitted that has come to regret his involvement in the $10 million heist
One of Kim Kardashian’s Paris robbers is doing some self-reflection
As the trial of the Kardashians star’s alleged assailants began in Paris April 28, nearly 10 years after the incident occurred at the city’s No Address Hotel
one of the defendants Yunice Abbas admitted
that he regrets his involvement in the $10 million heist
Indeed, the 71-year-old—who had previously admitted to stealing from the reality star in his 2021 book I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian—went from indicating that he was proud of his actions to stating in court, per BBC
adding that each time he would see coverage of the incident on the jail televisions
he was confronted with how much suffering he and his confidantes had caused the reality star
"We just grabbed the lady's handbag but I have discovered there's trauma behind it.”
Because prior to the trial—which is set to run through May 23
with Kim set to take the stand May 13—the suspect had recounted that night in Paris with an air of exhilaration
Just like in the old days,” Abbas wrote of the 2016 incident in his biography
alleging that he did not know the identity of their victim during their non-violent escapades
while another was deemed too ill to stand trial
As for what exactly happened the night of the robbery? In a verbal statement published by French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche in 2017
while she was in town for Paris Fashion Week
two men barged into her hotel room wearing hoods and jackets that read “Police” on them
the 44-year-old alleged that the robbers tied her up with plastic cables
taped her mouth shut and carried her to the bathtub before stealing over $10 million worth of jewelry
Kim was plagued with the lasting anguish the traumatic heist had caused
I almost lost myself,” the SKIMS founder said on a 2017 episode of The Alec Baldwin Show
but I wasn't motivated to get up and work like I used to
But despite remembering exactly how it felt to fear for her life in that moment, she expressed that she was “grateful” for the realizations that stemmed from the life-changing incident
“Even though it was horrific and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone
it really did deeply change me to where now I feel like I can get back to myself,” Kim explained
“There was a lot of me that measured who I was by how much I had
I'm worth so much.’ That needed to change in me.”
Numismatic News StaffUpdated May 1
2025 12:02 PM PDTShare this storyImage courtesy of FineArtAmerica
Early Tuesday morning near Alvord High School
an 18-wheeler hauling roughly $800,000 in freshly minted dimes toppled onto its side
81/Highway 287 into what can only be described as a change hoarder's fever dream (and a street sweeper’s worst nightmare)
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety
the driver veered off the road and overcorrected around 5:30 a.m.
causing the rig to flip and unleash an estimated 8 million dimes onto the pavement and surrounding grass like a pocket explosion of biblical proportions
others with street sweepers—and one man admitted to almost bringing a bucket
although the driver and a passenger were injured
No hazardous materials were involved—unless you count slipping on 10-cent pieces at 60 miles an hour
One thing’s for sure: this dime drop turned a routine Tuesday into a very change-filled day in Wise County
Chicanery on the Plains: Housekeeper's Coin Heist Unveiled
A Penny Saved Is a Penny Earned—But Not for Long
Connecticut Man Sentenced for Gold Coin Fraud
© 2025 Active Interest Media All rights reserved
by Allura Leggard
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A nail salon in Summerlin was left reeling after a group of thieves used a fire extinguisher as a distraction to steal from customers
The incident occurred in what is typically a quiet and safe shopping center
turning an ordinary day into a nightmare for those inside
and used the fire extinguisher to create a diversion
MORE | 1 person transported, suspect at large after shooting near Twain, University Center
They then proceeded to steal purses from customers
although no money was taken from the store itself
The manager noted that the security camera malfunctioned during the robbery
leaving her and her employees to deal with the aftermath and the concerns of their clients
expressed her shock upon hearing about the incident
"I saw it on my neighborhood alert from my ring camera
and I was immediately frightened for Cindy and her husband,d so I called right away to make sure that she was OK," Jenkins said
"That was really kind of strange that we have a robbery in the middle of the day in the trails because it is pretty safe."
Police have confirmed that the case is still open
with no further details available at this time
But then I watched the trailer—and let’s just say
The Diamond Heist isn’t your average true-crime doc
it covers the real-life attempted robbery of the De Beers Millennium Star
a 203.4-carat diamond worth over £350 million (roughly $464 million USD)
in November 2000 by Lee Wenham and six others—aka the so-called "Diamond Geezers.” But it also blends in scripted
cinematic reenactments that make it feel like you’re watching a full-blown thriller
and did I mention it’s executive produced by Guy Ritchie
Yep—the same guy behind The Gentlemen and Snatch
The trailer opens with a man in what looks like a criminal lair
“Are you all sitting comfortably?” he asks
setting the tone for the wild story that unfolds
interviews with both the police and the robbers and high-stakes reenactments
Even though the heist was ultimately foiled
the attempt itself was so elaborate that the would-be thieves were almost… admired
“You can’t help but be impressed by their balls,” someone quips in the trailer
it would have gone down as one of the biggest robberies in history
The Diamond Heist is a three-part docuseries recounting the near-successful robbery of one of the world’s most valuable diamonds
stylish and just the right amount of unbelievable
It's already been added to my watchlist—and it should definitely be on yours too
The Diamond Heist is streaming on Netflix now
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15 Shows and Movies to Watch This Weekend, Recommended by Our Editors
Netflix might have just delivered a gift for cinema fans in the form of a Hitchcock collection, but it's also yet to make up for the horrible "The Electric State," its most expensive movie and the Russo brothers' worst
More in the way of Hitchcock compendiums might well help in that regard
but not if the streamer also keeps churning out things like the Indian heist thriller "Jewel Thief — The Heist Begins."
"Jewel Thief — The Heist Begins" is here to continue the trend
unlike the Tollywood hit that was "RRR," Bollywood's latest attempt at a good heist film seems to have fallen flat with critics
But does that really matter when it's also managed to dominate the Netflix top charts
"Jewel Thief — The Heist Begins" is an Indian Hindi-language heist thriller from directors Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal
Saif Ali Khan stars as thief Rehan Roy alongside Jaideep Ahlawat's mafia boss Rajan Aulakh
The story sees Roy devising a heist to steal the African Red Sun jewel while trying to outsmart Aulakh and dodge Kunal Kapoor's detective Vikram Patel
"Jewel Thief" comes from Siddharth Anand's Marflix Pictures
the production company behind "War" and "Pathaan," and is described by Netflix as "a dazzling display of cunning and excitement that only Marflix and Netflix can deliver."
If you take a look at the critical reactions to the movie, however, it appears "Jewel Thief" has failed to live up to such a billing. But it's a different story over on the Netflix charts. "Jewel Thief" hit the platform on April 25, 2025, and according to FlixPatrol
a site that tracks viewership across the streaming services
taking the number 10 spot before rising to number eight the following day
the movie has been hovering around the same area
but considering its impressive global performance
"Jewel Thief" is charting in 79 countries and is number one in five of them
The movie is also number two in 16 countries
all of which has allowed it to claim the number four spot on the worldwide Netflix top 10
was spurred into a contemplation of the streaming sphere as a whole and the negative effect it's having on movie-making
"The problem with unserious cinema today is its templatization
as the streaming algorithm flattens the self-awareness."
A prime suspect behind Kim Kardashian’s 2016 Paris robbery has died before he could stand trial for the highly publicized crime
but officials had been in the dark about his death
He was due to stand trial on Monday along with 10 other men and at least one woman in their 60s and 70s deemed “grandpa robbers.”
Additional suspects include Didier “Blue Eyes” Dubreucq
The details of Baum-Gertner’s death are unknown
but he had been living in Paris and regularly reporting to police while he awaited trial
“His name was on the defendants’ list for the trial
and he was very enthusiastic about clearing his name in court,” the source said
Baum-Gertner had been receiving death threats from his gangland connections as the trial approached
A source added that there was concern that he would “name names.”
Baum-Gertner has had multiple previous convictions for stolen goods
The French Justice Ministry called Baum-Gertner’s crimes “to the detriment of Ms Kim Kardashian,” the Mail reported
Kardashian is reportedly scheduled to fly to Paris in May to give testimony as a key witness in the trial
During an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Kardashian tearfully recounted that she thought that she would be raped and killed during the ordeal
“Then [one of the armed men] duct tapes my face
to get me to not yell or anything and then he grabs my legs and I wasn’t
I had no clothes on under [my robe] and he pulled me towards him at the front of the bed,” she said
and he duct taped my legs together,” Kardashian added
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here
Emell Derra Adolphus is a Detroit and New York-based writer and a 2021 Kresge Literary Arts Fellow
He is currently working on a collection of LGBTQ short stories titled
Men/Unisex – 60% Cotton / 40% Polyester Construction
99% of exchanges are due to our tees running a bit snug
Width: Flat measurement 1" below armholeHeight: Flat measurement from high point of shoulder to bottom of tee
Broke the heart of an entire state while punching a ticket to greatness
More are on the way – please allow a few extra days for delivery of this one
Our tees are form-fitting so they look great on you
I discovered the sorry story of “Razzlekhan” and the strangest heist I ever hope to hear about
That meant I got to hear Razzlekhan’s abominable rapping and hear a verbal description of her videos — but now
thanks to Netflix’s new true-crime doc Biggest Heist Ever
I have those videos permanently seared into my brain
Razzlekhan — the alter-ego of one Heather Morgan — is only one bizarre facet of this story: 4.6 billion dollars (billion!!!) of bitcoin stolen by a young couple who are the exact opposite of what you’d expect from sophisticated cybercriminals
The story starts with $72 million stolen from Hong Kong-based virtual cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex back in 2016
Because cryptocurrency is an unregulated mess
all its lauded “transparency” amounted to was being able to see that money move on the blockchain
and the IRS watched it sit there and sit there as the case went cold
and the IRS once again began following the money
At the other end of that trail were: Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein
These two young white professionals made themselves at home as tech entrepreneur hustlers but behaved more like fifteen-year-olds with internet access
Heather posted now infamously bizarre videos — some simply talking into the camera
and many rapping as her alter-ego Razzlekhan
This rapping has to be heard to be believed
and makes himself much less visible than his partner … which turns out to be the far better play
Shortly after the 2016 heist they quit their jobs and moved to New York
where they lived in a $6,500-a-month apartment and just … chilled
Until the IRS came knocking with a warrant and raided their electronics
until the IRS came to slap on the handcuffs
the stolen bitcoin was worth approximately $4.6 billion dollars
Part of the farce — because this whole thing is undeniably a very destructive farce — is that these kids were terrible criminals
Everyone from the IRS to former hackers looks right into the camera and says
“You have a foreign passport; what you do
the lovebirds made countless videos and posted them publicly
They bought gift cards to launder some of the money (never buy gift cards!)
and seemed generally oblivious to the potential consequences
From the IRS investigator whose soul appears to wither behind his eyes as he recalls watching all of Razzlekhan’s videos by necessity to the absolutely bonkers amount of money spent on the couple’s designer cat
this documentary is the definition of a wild ride
I was not expecting to see cutscenes from Red Dead Redemption 2 as part of a psychological examination of a very real robbery
once again because cryptocurrency is an unregulated mess
Bitfinex is returning only the original 2016 value of the bitcoin to the actual victims of the heist and pocketing the appreciated difference
This documentary only shows one of the victims of the heist — not a bank or a corporation but an individual whose life savings vanished into thin air
Those savings then went on to fund…Razzlekhan videos
while I would normally point out how making the woman in this story the foremost laughingstock doesn’t sit well with me…Honestly
I have no words for how thoroughly she forged her own role in all this
I can only say: this thing needs to be seen to be believed
It also makes me even more terrified of techy hustle culture than I was before
Biggest Heist Ever is now streaming on Netflix
tunneling thieves steal millions in gold and jewels in downtown Los AngelesBy Richard Winton
Its safes were burglarized over the weekend
and officials now put its losses at about $10 million
Chun/Los Angeles Times/TNS) LOS ANGELES — The FBI is now investigating a jewelry heist that involved thieves tunneling through multiple walls to break into a downtown Los Angeles jewelry store over the weekend
Los Angeles Police say the thieves on Sunday night cut through a room next to the gold merchant in the 500 block of Broadway
LAPD officials said the owners informed the department that the thieves took about $10 million worth of merchandise
“They went for some really thick old walls
the FBI’s major theft task force took over the investigation
according to LAPD communications director Jennifer Forkish
In recent years, burglars have entered jewelry stores through rooftops, Joven said. Tunneling, while rare, isn’t unheard of. A business in the Fashion District was burglarized through tunneling thieves, Joven said. In Northern California, thieves last summer stole dozens of guns by tunneling into a store.
Then, in March of last year, thieves stole as much as $30 million from GardaWorld’s Sylmar cash storage facility
Los Angeles police responded to three alarms at the facility during the biggest heist in the city’s history on Easter weekend
and there are no images of them inside the business
LAPD forensic experts are examining the scene for fingerprints and DNA
LAPD investigators examined recordings and determined the heist began about 9:30 p.m
but the burglar crew could have begun cutting into adjacent properties earlier
The jewelers discovered the theft Monday morning when they arrived at their shop
Investigators believe the likely high-level professional burglars spent several hours inside the business
The modus operandi of such a crime has already helped narrow the potential participants in the heist
Burglars have taken to digging their way into vaults since at least the 1980s
there was a crew known as the Hole in the Ground Gang that tunneled under three L.A.-area banks
zipping around underground in all-terrain vehicles
making off with about $270,000 and the contents of safe-deposit boxes worth potentially millions
thieves tried to tunnel into a jeweler at the Topanga Canyon Plaza in Chatsworth
the owner was working and triggered the robbery alarm despite it being the middle of the night
The thieves had broken through multiple walls in a neighboring salon and another business to reach the jeweler’s interior wall
the ByBit attack highlights the concerns with crypto exchanges and their prevalence amongst North Korean criminal hacking groups
Q1: Who is responsible for the ByBit cryptocurrency heist
creating a significant source of revenue for the North Korean government
North Korea has increased its campaigns against the crypto industry after heavy sanctions continue to cripple their already isolated economy
Crypto theft provides an opportunity for funding that has a low barrier of entry with extremely high-profit opportunity
It’s also harder for law enforcement to track
and arrest perpetrators of these hacks than traditional modes of espionage and human intelligence
according to reporting from the New York Times
The ByBit hack has reaffirmed the importance of assessing third parties for security flaws and providing transparency at all stages of the transaction process to catch any signals that a transaction may be malicious in nature
Q3: How can law enforcement respond to these hacks
and therefore allowing the money to be laundered
Despite being able to identify the group and these addresses
hundreds of millions of dollars were laundered in the days following the attack
highlighting the trouble law enforcement has with effectively stopping these activities
One of the biggest issues in combating crimes that use cryptocurrency is the volume and scale that overwhelms the resources of both domestic and international law enforcement agencies
with its underlying technology—blockchain—that could allow for investigations to follow and track stolen money
and some of the highest priorities include a lack of information-sharing opportunities across jurisdictions once a crime has been identified
These issues reiterate how the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies provides unique challenges that both domestic and international law enforcement agencies need to overcome to mitigate the challenges associated with this growing technology
Q4: Why do malicious actors use cryptocurrencies for money laundering
A4: The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies makes them appealing for criminal activity
global regulatory framework overseeing crypto transactions makes it easier for criminals to evade law enforcement when moving large amounts of illicit transactions
generating hundreds of thousands of dollars from the process
Q5: What effect will this have on the future of crypto policy in the United States
federal Bitcoin purchasing strategy as well as tariffs
and fears of a tech selloff have sapped risk appetite in crypto and broader financial markets.
A combination of stronger crypto regulations and improved security measures at crypto companies could spark greater consumer confidence in digital assets
The volatility in the stock market in the immediate aftermath of the attack raised questions about investor appetite for increased use of digital assets
Despite the Trump administration’s actions to bring crypto into mainstream U.S
the hack could delay increased investment given the security concerns that this attack displayed
Increased crypto activity will depend on how much investors trust these digital assets
The best avenue to increase that trust is by regulating the downsides of crypto so investors can benefit from the upsides
Taylar Rajic is an associate fellow with the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington
Julia Brock is a program manager and research associate with the Strategic Technologies Program at CSIS
Critical Questions is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues
Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary
CSIS does not take specific policy positions
and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s)
© 2025 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies
See Media Page for more interview, contact, and citation details.
©2025 Center for Strategic & International Studies. All Rights Reserved.
Roadside Attractions has just released the official trailer for Richard Gray’s The Unholy Trinity, starring Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson.
The trailer for the Western film The Unholy Trinity has Samuel L. Jackson and Pierce Brosnan looking for a missing hoard of gold.
Saban Films and Roadside Attractions will distribute filmmaker Richard Gray’s movie in theaters nationwide on June 13.
Brandon Lessard, Veronica Ferres, Gianni Capaldi, Q’orianka Kilcher, Tim Daly, Ethan Peck, Katrina Bowden and David Arquette round out the cast.
Set in Montana in the 1870s, The Unholy Trinity centers on Henry Broadway (Lessard), who heads to the town of Trinity with a plan to murder the man who framed his late father. Once he arrives, Henry is caught in a feud between the upstanding new sheriff (Brosnan) and the mysterious St. Christopher (Jackson).
“Let me give you a bit of advice: Keep your ancestry between us,” Brosnan warns Lessard in the trailer after learning of his father’s identity. “Not every man who is known is loved.”
Later, Jackson boasts, “I know your daddy real well. Me and him stole enough gold to pave the streets of heaven.” He goes on to add, “In case it ain’t obvious, you will find that gold.”
Gray (Murder in Yellowstone City) directed the picture from a script by Lee Zachariah. Gray, Carter Boehm, Kellie Lessard Brooks, Jeanne Allgood Gaisford, Michele Gray, Colin Floom, and Cameron Lessard work as producers.
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Commitment to Equal Access and Equal Opportunity
The Washington Commanders didn't have a great need at the wide receiver spot entering the 2025 NFL Draft. That didn't stop Adam Peters from selecting Jaylin Lane when the opportunity arose at No. 128 overall
Some new information from a respected draft analyst indicates the Commanders might have a potential steal on their hands
Lane is a tremendous athlete with the ability to impact proceedings all over the field
He's another explosive threat for quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels to depend upon
If the former Virginia Tech standout imposes himself immediately
there is an opportunity to carve out a role for himself right out of the gate
Ryan Fowler from The Draft Network believes it's possible
The analyst confirmed that Lane had an early Day 2 grade heading into his final season with the Hokies
His stock slid after he wasn't utilized effectively
which worked in Washington's favor when push came to shove
The Commanders have a masterful play-caller leading the offensive charge
Kliff Kingsbury will know exactly how to maximize Lane's skill set
Whether that's stretching the field or getting the football into his hands quickly
the rookie will be put in much more profitable positions moving forward
Adding some extra play strength is crucial for Lane
Bolstering his route tree and working on manipulation at the top of his route stems will also serve him well
his pure athleticism and elusiveness in open space can help immediately while polishing potential problem areas of his game
Expecting miracles right away would be unrealistic
but there's nothing to suggest he cannot accumulate his fair share of targets as the campaign progresses
Based on special teams coordinator Larry Izzo's reaction to the pick
a starting spot in the return game is also likely in Year 1 of his professional career
Peters was all about finding the right value regardless of need
Lane represents exactly that in the fourth round if he lives up to his initial projections before the 2024 campaign
this could be one of the draft's best steals when it's all said and done
Ryan Fowler from The Draft Network believes it's possible
The Commanders have a masterful play-caller leading the offensive charge
Peters was all about finding the right value regardless of need
2025The Hôtel de Pourtalès in the 8th arrondissement caters almost exclusively to the rich and famous
Police outside its entrance after the robbery
Inset: Kim Kardashian in Paris the day of the robbery.Kim: NurPhoto/Getty Images
Facade: Lionel Urman/Sipa/Shutterstock.Save this storySaveSave this storySaveKim Kardashian had only one desire: to flee as quickly as she could
“I want to leave and be reunited with my children in the United States,” she said
“A private plane is waiting for me at Le Bourget.” It wasn’t that simple
Investigators from the Paris police’s organized crime department still had a few questions to ask her
and they were at her hotel to take her statement
The 35-year-old American star appeared distraught—“in shock
and she wasn’t wearing any makeup,” they noted
burst into her suite at the Hôtel de Pourtalès
a stone’s throw from the Madeleine church in the heart of the city
At first she believed she was dealing with “terrorists,” as she put it
I decided to do whatever they asked.” Kardashian told investigators the men demanded her jewelry
then bound her and duct-taped her mouth before carrying her into the bathroom
Her nightmare lasted about 10 minutes at most
like my heart was coming out of my chest,” she said
She also explained to the police that she wasn’t able to see much of her assailants
One must have been close to five foot eleven
and the other was between five seven and five nine
The investigators seized a number of items that the thieves might have touched for DNA testing
They took samples from Kardashian’s wrists
she was allowed to depart on her private jet
the global media would arrive at the hotel
10 defendants in the case are due to appear before the Paris Assize Court for a trial that is scheduled to stretch from April 28 to May 23
Three of the defendants suspected of having broken into the Hôtel de Pourtalès to rob Kardashian are now between 68 and 71 years old
One wears a hearing aid; another has difficulty walking
They will be tried for their alleged part in one of the most spectacular robberies of recent decades
with an estimated haul valued between $6 million and $10 million
Kardashian sitting front row at the Givenchy show on October 2
2016.Front row: Abaca Press / Alamy Stock Photo.Kardashian with her mother
front row at the Givenchy show on October 2
2016.WWD/Penske Media/Getty Images.The trial will present two spectacularly different worlds
one of the most famous and photographed women in the world
whose social media–abetted rise to fame represented an entirely new brand of celebrity; on the other
There’s a California woman with an almost inconceivable fortune on one hand and a motley crew of criminals largely from the poor suburbs of Paris on the other
Most of the accused—who are still presumed innocent—continue to deny any wrongdoing
Two of them have provided limited confessions
and explain that some statements they provided were the result
The accused burglars have also been approached by American documentary producers and major Parisian publishers eager to share their stories
facing the wrath of his supposed accomplices
he didn’t know who Kardashian was before targeting her
who met most of the accused while writing Kim et Les Papys Braqueurs (Kim and the Grandpa Robbers)
points out: “What struck me was their casualness
there was something amateur about the operation
“I told myself they were going to shoot me
Kardashian has rarely spoken publicly about her ordeal
the episode remains a source of trauma for her
confirmed she planned to testify in person at the trial two weeks before its start
Kardashian is preserving her testimony for the Court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further on it at this stage,” Rhodes wrote in a statement
“She has tremendous appreciation and admiration for the French judicial system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities.”
“It could be an incredible moment in court,” one Parisian defense lawyer tells me
the trial will offer a look at a sprawling investigation
Paris police agents deployed considerable resources to identify the heist’s perpetrators
Their reputation around the world was at stake
He arrived in France from Algeria at the age of seven and grew up in Cormeilles-en-Parisis
in a public housing development surrounded by open fields
He dabbled in petty theft from an early age
He was sent to the juvenile section of the Évreux prison
Convictions for increasingly more serious crimes followed
and other acts of violence led to more frequent prison stays
the authorities lost track of Ait Khedache when he disappeared to avoid a five-year sentence for drug possession and trafficking
he resurfaced and could often be found in the capital’s bistros
even if his age and physical condition had curtailed his criminal activity
The former marathon runner is now half deaf and wears thick glasses
a group of men are smoking Gitanes and sipping Ricard in a bar in the Marais district
It’s then Ait Khedache hears about the wife of a famous rapper who regularly visits Paris during fashion weeks
a fortune in diamonds that she displays on social media
The person who gives him this tip assures him that he has a solid source in Kardashian’s entourage during her visits to Paris
she stays in a luxurious apartment-hotel that doesn’t have the same level of security as some other hotels
it sounds like a very simple operation to Ait Khedache
whom prosecutors have alleged was the plot’s ringleader—a charge he has always denied
Ait Khedache doesn’t know who Kardashian is
But he appreciates his future target’s array of jewels
including a ring set with an 18.8-carat diamond
given to her earlier that year by her husband
Ait Khedache sets to work assembling a team for the heist
whom he met over the years in various Paris bistros
He also carries out the initial scouting to verify the low level of security at the hotel
to enter a paved courtyard filled with statues
and at the far end is the Hôtel de Pourtalès
The only challenge: You can’t reach the building by car
The robbers will have to get away on bikes
The ring targeted during the robbery has never been recovered.Ring: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images.Kendall Jenner and Hailey Baldwin arrive at the hotel after the robbery.BACKGRID.In June 2016
The burgeoning heist team considers pulling off their robbery then but decides against it
and Kardashian is too often surrounded by photographers
Known as “Didier-les-Yeux-Bleus” (“Didier Blue Eyes”)
he’s an underemployed plumber and enthusiast of Côtes-du-Rhône wines with a dozen criminal convictions
He spent 23 years of his life in prison for theft
and now his head rings with tinnitus after living with the constant noise of detention centers
Abbas has spent almost two decades in prison since his first conviction in 1972
When his friend tells him about a job stealing the jewelry of the wife of a famous rapper
He doesn’t want to end up back behind bars
he can’t see himself committing a robbery that requires escaping by bike
and the fear of missing out on what could be one of the biggest heists of the decade finally convinces him
though they disperse each time she returns to her Parisian residence: the Hôtel de Pourtalès
The luxurious mansion in the 8th arrondissement caters exclusively to the rich and famous
and ideally guests who fit both of those descriptions
Prince bought out the entire hotel for a party in 2010
Soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimović lived there for a year
They honeymooned there after they were married in 2014
There are 11 tastefully decorated apartments
with prices ranging from 1,000 to 15,000 euros per night
Kardashian settles into one of the most luxurious suites
She’s in and out between stops around the city—a fitting at Balmain with Olivier Rousteing
lunch at a restaurant off of Avenue Montaigne
she sits front row at Riccardo Tisci’s show for Givenchy at the Jardin des Plantes
she heads back to the suite with her sister to change
then on to the Azzedine Alaïa showroom for a private dinner
Bianca Jagger and architect Peter Marino are among the guests who dine on scrambled eggs with truffles and Saint-Honoré cakes
washed down with Louis XIII cognac from Maison Rémy Martin
Then it’s back to the hotel around midnight
just off the Champs-Élysées; their shared bodyguard goes with her
a 39-year-old student from northern Algeria
is working as the night concierge one floor down; he is mostly paid not to fall asleep and is fighting boredom by studying for a doctorate in semiology and discourse analysis at the Sorbonne
he is talking to a friend on Skype when someone knocks on the hotel door
Complaints of occasional disturbances are common
“We’re here for the money,” shouts one of the assailants
The concierge offers a vague reply: “Fashion people
it’s Fashion Week.” During a brief moment of hesitation
he wonders who the criminals are really after
Ouatiki leads two of the robbers to Kardashian’s room at gunpoint
Kardashian thinks she hears her sister coming home from the club and utters an unanswered hello
Then she sees two men in police uniforms arrive
Kardashian at first thinks she’s dealing with terrorists
She doesn’t reach help (the equivalent of 911 in France is 17)
but the robbers grab the star’s iPhone 6 and Blackberry
For five long minutes—“the most terrible” minutes
the reality TV star later explains to police—the room is plunged into an unbearable suspense
The thieves mime the gesture of a groom slipping a wedding ring onto the finger of his bride
“I think they want your ring,” the concierge suggests
He is still a hostage but also now a negotiator and interpreter
Kardashian points to the solitaire on her bedside table
I have children.” One of the assailants then takes it upon himself to tie up the star
his accomplice grabs as much jewelry as he can
Just as they’re about to move on to another room
The concierge later explains to the police officer that he had warned the thieves: “Do you know who’s calling?” he asked them
and eventually the thieves disappear on their bikes
the haul exceeds the thieves’ expectations
a local woman on her way to work came across a sumptuous pendant on the ground
she learned the value of the 3.5-carat jewel she found: $33,180
The next day she turned it in to the local police station
the investigators quickly rule out insurance fraud
Why would he open the door to hooded individuals
The cameras installed in the hotel were not operating that evening
so it was impossible to confirm parts of his account
after being questioned at length and having spent 36 hours without sleep
and Kanye West leave the Givenchy offices on September 29
2016.Marc Piasecki/Getty Images.Kardashian and her bodyguard in Paris on October 2
2016.NurPhoto/Getty Images.The investigators are immediately under pressure
already badly damaged by the wave of terrorist attacks the previous year
They begin by retrieving images from surveillance cameras near the hotel that show some of the alleged thieves leaving by bicycle
DNA is found on the rolls of tape used to tie up Kardashian and also on the cable used to restrain the concierge
This DNA is eventually traced back to a man called Pascal
They discover that Pascal is in fact an alias used by Ait Khedache
police realize that the owner of a bar Ait Khedache frequented was close to the brother of the driver that Kardashian regularly hired when she visited Paris
They express annoyance at not getting the money they expected from the robbery
The police have a front-row seat on the gang’s activities
Ait Khedache puts pressure on a certain Nez Râpé
who is suspected of being the fence for the goods and is entrusted with selling the jewels in Antwerp
But selling a ring like Kardashian’s is not easy
thieves recover only a very small fraction of a piece’s market value—10 to 15 percent
once all the intermediaries have been paid
the suspected fence managed to sell only a few stolen pieces
Authorities make their first arrests in the case on January 9
taking 17 people into custody early in the morning
They are almost all repeat offenders: a Marais bistro owner
Of the 10 defendants who will eventually face charges
and at first all of them deny any involvement with the crime
But two come under particular pressure from the police
the police find 16,900 euros in his refrigerator
He claims to be “able to explain” but then struggles to do so when the investigators tell him that his DNA was found in Kardashian’s bedroom
he finally breaks down and confesses to having played a small role in the affair
The investigators find almost 60,000 euros in small bills at his son’s house
Abbas says his role was merely to stay on the first floor of the Hôtel de Pourtalès and keep watch
they’ve all denied the evidence against them
He is suspected of being the second hooded man to have entered the suite
But he insists that he is the victim of a combination of circumstances
having merely been an acquaintance of Ait Khedache
an individual on CCTV images bears a resemblance to him
And the police also say he had one of the burner phones in his possession
“I only have peace phones,” he jokes in a book interview
playing off the French phrase for a burner phone
portable de guerre or “war mobile.” Dubreucq presents himself as an innocent father
Dubreucq spent nearly 11 months in pretrial detention
only to be released to receive chemotherapy for lung cancer
after quadruple-bypass surgery and getting a new heart valve
after a police check unearthed the outstanding five-year sentence for drug trafficking
He is set to be released from that term at the end of this month
though the result of the Kardashian trial will now decide his freedom
and Ait Khedache are all charged with a criminally organized robbery at gunpoint and sequestration and face up to 30 years in prison
“I want to tell you how much I regret what I did
“My client will assume responsibility for his part in the crime,” says Gabriel Dumenil
Abbas can’t wait for the process to be over
though his client didn’t make it easy for himself
Abbas cowrote a 2021 book about the affair
J’ai séquestré Kim Kardashian (I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian)
and perhaps even more than he actually did
Was it driven by a sudden desire for fame or money
he explained how he enjoyed favorable treatment in prison from other inmates
“Some of them would pat me on the back and congratulate me: ‘You did a good job
so I don’t see what the big deal is.’” Strangers began to recognize him on the street and asked for selfies
And then Abbas became disillusioned with it all
At the request of the hotel concierge’s lawyers
the copyright to his book was seized by the courts
a letter to Kardashian: “After witnessing your emotions and realizing the psychological damage I have inflicted on you
not in the hope you will forgive me but as a human who wishes to tell you how much I regret what I did
and how moved I was when I saw you in tears.” It remains to be seen whether he will have the opportunity to repeat his apology to Kardashian in person
“Specific arrangements related to his health are essential for him to be able to appear in court in conditions that are dignified and respectful of the rights of the defense,” says Chloé Arnoux
as her client’s difficulty hearing has continued to worsen
one of the alleged perpetrators of the crime
The trial will also present the chance to hear from the night’s other primaries
He was also ousted from the Kardashian entourage
who was once a suspect but has since been cleared
He had to return to Algeria without completing his studies
although he may receive a short-term visa at the time of the trial
a French judge traveled to the US to question Kardashian
She said she had been transformed by the trauma and had become less materialistic after the robbery
“My perception of jewelry is that I don’t care about it like I used to
I feel like it’s become a burden to be responsible for such expensive items
No object of sentimental value can compare with coming home to your children
she still flaunted a sumptuous Attallah cross
She had purchased it for just under $200,000
Perhaps it is some small form of consolation: To date
most of the jewels stolen in 2016 have not been recovered
This story was originally published by Vanity Fair France
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Lee Wenham and his team of thieves got busted in the Millennium Dome raid 25 years ago
Jessica Sager is a contributing writer at PEOPLE
Her work has previously appeared in Parade