$500,000 in Jewelry Found in Drug Raid

Sheriff’s narcotics investigators searching a Hollywood residence were unable to locate what they came for--drugs. But they did not leave empty-handed.

They discovered a briefcase with about $500,000 worth of jewelry that had been stolen in Illinois.

“Our detectives were a little shocked . . . and pleasantly surprised to be able to solve the robbery,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Robert Briggs. “As soon as they spotted the jewelry, it was obvious it was stolen. Almost all the pieces had those little plastic tabs jewelers put on them.”

Justin Lewis, 22, of Chicago, who was arrested at the house in the 1700 block of North Sycamore Avenue, was booked Sunday night at the West Hollywood sheriff’s station and charged with possession of stolen property. He will be extradited to Illinois on an armed robbery charge, authorities said.

Detectives were investigating cocaine trafficking when they searched the residence, Briggs said. Then they discovered a cloth briefcase on a table, filled with almost 500 rings, necklaces, earrings and pendants.

“We got there too early for the narcotics,” Briggs said. “The jewelry apparently was going to be used to trade for drugs. The jewelry was mostly 18-carat gold with some precious stones.”

The detectives discovered that the jewelry had been stolen from an Evanston, Ill., jewelry store and contacted the Evanston Police Department.

Evanston Det. John Howard said that two men wandered into a downtown jewelry store Thursday and inquired about a gold pendant. They returned the next day and asked again about the pendant. The owner walked to the back of the store and retrieved the pendant. One man shot him with a stun gun, and his partner drew a pistol.

They handcuffed the owner and emptied his safe into a plastic garbage bag.

“This was a tough case,” Howard said. “So it was a real break when we got the call from L.A.”