7 Face Charges in Sting Aimed at Jewelry Sales

Seven employees at five Antelope Valley businesses are facing misdemeanor charges for buying jewelry from an undercover sheriff’s deputy without having secondhand dealer licenses or requiring proper identification, deputies said Thursday.

Sheriff’s deputies said the sting operation was aimed at closing down unlicensed outlets where burglars could sell stolen goods without leaving any records. Merchants who buy secondhand goods are required to have a special license, must report their purchases to the Sheriff’s Department and obtain identification from sellers, deputies said.

Lt. Tom Ewens, head of the detectives bureau in the sheriff’s Antelope Valley station, said the seven people were ordered to appear in court but not taken into custody. Deputies said the citations had been issued since April 26. The identity of the people or businesses involved were not available Thursday.