Emerald Seized; Man Charged With Forgery
Police seized a $100,000 emerald Wednesday and arrested a North Hollywood man as the alleged accomplice of a Canadian who reportedly operated a bad-check scam in California and several other states.
James Vincent Amento, 25, was being held in the North Hollywood Jail. Amento and James Compton Harvey, 58, of Canada were wanted by law enforcement authorities in seven states for allegedly forging cashier’s checks to purchase up to $1.6 million in jewelry and coins.
Harvey was arrested Saturday in Palm Springs. He was being held in the San Diego County Jail.
Los Angeles police searched Amento’s apartment Wednesday and seized an emerald valued at $100,000, altered and blank cashier’s checks, other unused bank documents used to prepare cashier’s checks, $1,821 in cash, two handguns and a sawed-off shotgun, officials said.
Harvey and Amento allegedly used forged cashier’s checks to purchase the light yellow emerald from its Arizona owner.
The two men were wanted in connection with an armed robbery in Laguna Beach.
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