The feds seized a 68-carat diamond from a Fifth Avenue jewelry store yesterday that had been greased through customs in an elaborate con, court documents said.
The alleged scammer, identified as Dennis van Kerrebroeck, convinced a South African diamond company that he wanted to buy the gigantic gemstone, worth about $3.3 million, last September.
He and a representative from the company flew from Switzerland to New York with the stone the next day. When the stone was taken by customs agents for clearance, he and the rep got a hotel room for the night, according to the papers.
The next day, van Kerrebroeck was able to get the diamond released, but told the diamond dealer that it was still being held by customs.
A few days later, van Kerrebroeck allegedly hawked the colossal stone to Taly Diamond for a deep discount, $1 million, the papers show.
Federal agents swooped in on the store yesterday and grabbed the gemstone, which is the same size as the diamond that Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor to celebrate her 40th birthday.
Authorities are trying to locate van Kerrebroeck.
