A Beverly Hills swindler is slated for a decade behind bars after copping to a slick theft of high-end jewelry from tourists visiting for a fashion fest. Jobson Marangoni De Castro, 38, pleaded guilty to a single count of carting off stolen property across state lines – a serious federal offense with a maximum penalty of 10 years in the slammer.
According to a press release from the Department of Justice, De Castro finessed his way into out-of-towners' luxury lodgings by duping a hotel worker to score a key. In a stealth operation, while the Brazilian victims were out dining on the night of May 10, 2023, he filched six suitcases containing personal treasures.
Upon returning to find their belongings vanished, the guests triggered an investigation that landed De Castro in cuffs by August. Court filings noted the lifted loot, which included clothing and accessories in addition to the glittery baubles, was appraised close to a cool $1.8 million.
Playing the huckster, De Castro hustled to Miami for a quick offload, reaching out to a buyer over Instagram under the pretense of selling family heirlooms "found in a box belonging to his late mother," as detailed by court documents. The buyer, deceived by the sob story, wired $50,000 for the hot diamonds and ritzy watch on May 18, 2023. It turns out, the bling matched the stolen Beverly Hills goods to a T.
The conman's use of the alias "Jobs Marangoni" – same as his ride-share account – was perhaps a poetic slip that aided the feds in their tracking. The investigation, conducted cooperatively by the FBI and Beverly Hills Police, culminated in De Castro's capitulation. United States District Judge Hernán D. Vera has set an April 30 evidentiary hearing for De Castro, with his official sentencing due afterward, prosecutors from the office of the Assistant United States Attorney Alexander S. Gorin assert.
