Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Stolen Goods Charges

LAS VEGAS—A man pleaded guilty today to federal charges that he stole over $300,000 in expensive jewelry from persons at golf courses in multiple states, including Nevada, and sold it at trade shows, jewelry stores, and pawn shops, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

Jeffrey Cochran, 47, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to two counts of possession and sale of stolen goods, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on October 18, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. Cochran faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.

According to the plea agreement, from about September 15, 2010 to March 10, 2012, Cochran stole jewelry, including Tag Heuer and Rolex watches, from individuals at golf courses in other states and transported the goods to Las Vegas for sale at jewelry and pawn stores. Cochran also stole jewelry from individuals at golf courses in Las Vegas and transported the stolen jewelry to other states to sell at trade shows and jewelry and pawn stores. The plea agreement states that the government and defendant agree that the readily provable loss associated with Cochran’s theft is $300,895.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Special Investigations Section and was part of a federal and local law enforcement effort to combat organized retail theft. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christina M. Brown.