Pink diamond ring worth $35 million pulled from Christie’s auction was at center of psychic scheme

A spectacular 13.15-carat pink diamond ring worth as much as $35 million was pulled from auction at Christie’s in New York at the last minute after it was discovered to be part of an elaborate jewelry heist from $90 million involving a Florida psychic.

The alleged fraudster, John Lee, 56, of New Jersey and Florida, has been charged with wire fraud, mail fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. If he is convicted, he faces 20 years behind bars for each charge.

The signature ring described by Christie’s as “a phenomenon in the world of rare diamonds” was scheduled to go on public display to potential buyers in Hong Kong and New York City, but was later revealed to be part of an elaborate $90 jewelry set. millions. mugging involving an employee of a wealthy individual in Doha, Qatar.

The person working for the wealthy resident approached Lee on an online platform seeking “relationship and love advice” but ended up helping to steal $90 million worth of jewelry, court records revealed, first reported by court clock.

Seventeen expensive gems were seized from the employer’s safe in August and mailed to Lee, authorities said. Christie’s was set to auction off the rare stone on December 6, 2022 until the FBI intervened.

The pink diamond ring, described by Christie’s as “a phenomenon in the world of rare diamonds,” was scheduled to go on public display to prospective buyers in Hong Kong and New York City, and was estimated to fetch between $25 and $25. 35 million dollars.

In the packages were high-priced, exclusive items that include a white diamond, approximately 42 carats, as well as two large canary diamonds, a necklace consisting of approximately 150 diamonds for Lee, court documents reveal.

The stolen parts also included precious metals and stones, such as diamonds, rubies and sapphires, as well as watches.

The jewelry had a purchase price value of more than $90 million, according to the court filing.

Florida prosecutors said that in June 2022, the employee, who has not been identified, sent his own jewelry to Lee “in the hope that he could cleanse it of evil spirits,” the news outlet reported.

The clerk believed Lee would remove the bad omens as promised and then return the jewelry, prosecutors said.

But, when the employee didn’t think cleaning would help them get rid of their “negativity,” Lee advised them to wear their boss’s jewelry, according to legal documents.

The skilled con artist depicted in a gray suit calls himself ‘Master Advisor’ under the name 111Giovanni1111 promising clients that his 1,111 angels will ‘help guide me in advising them’.

Tired of false promises? Ready to hear the truth? Is it time to move on or wait? Please allow me to share my special gift with you and get the peace you truly deserve,” Lee wrote on her profile page that appeared on the Purple Garden site.

After Christie’s learned of the plan, the auction house wrote in a statement that the pink diamond had been ‘withdrawn from sale.’

According to the Department of Justice, the employee continued to steal from her employer and send the jewelry to the scammer at least four times.

They would go to their employer’s safe and remove the rare jewelry before mailing it to the United States via FedEx in Qatar.

An exterior photo of Christie’s auction house

John Lee’s profile page saying ‘this advisor is no longer available’

The arrest warrant for John Lee, the so-called psychic scammer

Lee promised the clerk that he would return the jewelry.

The couple was supposed to meet in Cannes, France, but according to the clerk, Lee never showed up and enlightened them.

The employee then confessed to his boss, who was not publicly identified in the legal documents, the new york post office informed.

Lee allegedly traded a $31 million worth of diamond to a watch broker in exchange for $8 million worth of watches and diamonds, CourtWatch reported.

He also sold 150 diamonds to that same watch broker for $4 million in cash and watches, according to the report.

The vivid pink diamond stunner had apparently passed through another buyer before arriving at Christie’s. the auction house made the rare stone ‘his signature item’ for his December auction.

They shared in their press material that “this Fancy Vivid pink diamond ring ranks as one of the most significant colored diamonds to ever hit the market,” the news outlet reported.

A Christie’s spokesperson told CourtWatch: “We can confirm that we are cooperating with authorities, but Christie’s does not comment on ongoing investigations to which we are not a party.”

Lee is due to appear in court in Florida later this month.