Natural Sapphire Co. CEO has pleaded guilty to forging court orders

[MollyMalone]

In April, I reported on the arrest of Michael Arnstein, the CEO of the Natural Sapphire Company, on charges he'd drawn up bogus court orders directing Google to remove certain pages -- including a few from Pricescope -- that Mr. Arnstein was eager to "erase' from Internet attention:
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...rged-w-forging-ct-orders-re-ps-others.230719/

Two weeks after his arrest, Arnstein's lawyer told National Jeweler magazine that his legal team

"looks forward to working with the Justice Department so we can present the extraordinary mitigating circumstances that led to these charges. Our company has been through a tremendous challenge, which we are sure will be of great interest to many trade professionals and internet-based businesses. We cannot make any further comment until we have further discussions with [the U.S. Department of Justice] on this case.”​

http://www.nationaljeweler.com/inde...o-exec-charged-with-forging-judge-s-signature

Don't know what, if any, "extraordinary mitigating circumstances" were presented to the DoJ, but last Friday (September 15), Arnstein pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to forge a federal judge's signature. Sentencing is presently scheduled for January 16, 2018; he faces up to 5 years in prison.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/p...ty-conspiracy-forge-federal-judge-s-signature

 

[Rfisher]

If no "extraordinary mitigating circumstances" that "will be of great interest to many trade professionals and internet based businesses" were provided/proven.
This seems to be a case of paranoia / delusions of grandeur. The untouchable.
A medical issue or simply One has not been told "no" or "you are mistaken/wrong" for a very long time.

 

[minousbijoux]

MM: Thank you for the update. Hubris (or idiocy?) seems to be rampant these days...

 

[normanintheskywithsapphires]

Poor fellow on a personal level, but I always disliked the fact that they claim to be 'THE NATURAL sapphire company' as main selling point but then have as many or more heated gems than unheated. A while ago, they had not single unheated padparadscha in stock. And yes, I know, heated is also 'natural' but it does point to a loose relationship with truth.

 

[normanintheskywithsapphires]

I must correct myself: There are many unheated padparadschas on the site now, I don't know if I looked wrong or they have caught up. My bad. Not true.

 

[Arcadian]

Poor fellow? He knew it was wrong to forge the name of that judge and he did it anyway.

thanks @MollyMalone for keeping on top of this and updating us further.

 

[normanintheskywithsapphires]

Yes, poor fellow, on a compassionate personal level. He knew, but who is to throw the first stone?

 

[Rfisher]

Yes, poor fellow, on a compassionate personal level. He knew, but who is to throw the first stone?

Hypothetically:
Would you have the same compassion for someone selling you a gem with forged unheated/untreated certification?

 

[normanintheskywithsapphires]

Well, I can be angry on a personal level but still have compassion with somebody who is perhaps looking at a ruined life?
If he goes to jail, I sure have compassion, for him, his kids, family.
Even for that ponzi-guy Madoff, his son committed suicide, and he sits in jail, divorced. Yes, he ruined 1000 peoples life, but I still feel for him. What a punishment, worse than beheading.