North Attleboro man pleads guilty to stealing over $1 million in precious metals from employer | Local News

He pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods and one count of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Preacher stole gold, silver and platinum from the manufacturing facility where he worked full-time since 2018 as a manufacturing supervisor. The company makes and sells luxury items, including jewelry made from the precious metals, according to court records.

Although the name of the company was not disclosed by authorities, a LinkedIn page listed in Preacher’s name on March 14 when he was arrested said he was employed at Tiffany & Co. in Cumberland since 2018 as a third-shift supervisor overseeing and managing production of high-end jewelry.

Preacher sold precious metals to a Canton-based metals dealer roughly one to two times a month from March 2020 to March 2023 for sales totaling more than $1 million, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

The sales of stolen metals included $50,521 in 18-carat gold in March 2020; $21,821 in 18-carat gold, “platinum scrap” and “sterling” in April 2021; and $30,939 in platinum in January 2022.

Preacher also sold more than $177,000 in stolen precious metals to a different metals dealer in West Bridgewater from May to November 2023.

The metals included gold sheets used by Preacher’s employer in a particular machine, which Preacher allegedly stole and sold, along with other gold scrap, for nearly $21,000, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

About 30 minutes into his shift on March 1, Preacher was captured on company security cameras stealing a piece of white gold “flat stock,” measuring about an inch in diameter and as thick as a quarter, which was valued at roughly $2,200, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Precious metals in scrap form were seized a search of his home when he was arrested, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

He remains free with conditions pending sentencing, according to court records.

Preacher faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count and three years’ probation, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

But prosecutors say they will recommend a term of incarceration at the low end of sentencing guidelines and restitution of at least $1.7 million, according to the plea agreement filed in court.

He has agreed to forfeit over $1.2 million and will cooperate with the IRS to determine his tax liabilities, according to the agreement.

The case was investigated by the IRS.