2 Plead Guilty to Fashion Island Jewelry Thefts

Two men pleaded guilty Monday to stealing $8 million in jewels from two Fashion Island stores, the district attorney’s office said.

Michael Rabb, 48, of Lake Worth, Fla., and Walter Zischke, 47, of Cicero, Ill., were each sentenced by Superior Court Judge Robert Fitzgerald to 10 years’ imprisonment. Had they been convicted of the 15 conspiracy and robbery counts filed against each of them, they would have faced a maximum of 13 years in prison, Deputy Dist. Atty. James Mulgrew said.

Their accomplice, John Evans, 53, of Cicero, pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to commit armed robbery and was given a three-year sentence, Mulgrew said.

Rabb and Zischke pleaded guilty to making off with about $6 million worth of gems from Carol Klein Fine Jewelry in October, 1989, and about $2 million in valuables from Moboco Fine Jewelry and Gems in March, 1990.

Mulgrew said no more than 10 stolen items have been recovered, declining to give the value of the recovered jewels.

The three men were arrested last August as they reportedly were laying plans for a third Newport Beach robbery. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy in that case.

Monday’s guilty plea “was a smart move” for Rabb, his attorney, Joel Baruch, said. “He was looking at a possibility of facing 18 years” if he had he gone to trial and had been found guilty with a prior conviction.

Rabb and Zischke were cellmates at Joliet State Prison in Illinois, where they had served time for various crimes, including murder and burglary.