Kaua‘i police have snagged a man in connection to a counterfeit jewelry scam that's been duping people in the area. According to a press release from the Kaua‘i Government, 29-year-old Remus Miclescu was arrested yesterday after attempts to sell fake gold jewelry in a Walmart parking lot were reported earlier this month.
A week before his run-in with police, Miclescu was linked to two men who were selling fake jewelry and claiming they needed money to fix their car. After fleeing before police arrived, they left a vehicle description that helped officers track them down. Miclescu, a Romanian national living in Washington State, now faces charges of Driving Without a Valid License and Third-Degree Theft. Released on Recognizance, he has pledged to appear in court.
Speaking about the public’s involvement in these matters, Lieutenant Kennison Nagahisa of KPD’s Criminal Investigations Division stated, "These types of scams prey on the generosity and aloha spirit of our community," as reported by the Kaua‘i County Press Releases. It's not the first rodeo for the Kaua‘i Police Department (KPD) either. Back in 2022, KPD rounded up a similar band of fraudsters palming off bogus jewelry as rare antiques.
Anyone who notices something suspicious is urged to contact the Kaua‘i Police Department. For anonymous tips, they can reach out to Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i.
