In a case that underscores the audacity of theft in high-end retail settings, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. has announced the guilty plea of 50-year-old Yaorong Wan. Accused of stealing diamond rings worth approximately $260,000 from renowned jewelers Tiffany & Co. and Cartier, Wan has pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. As reported by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, he is expected to be sentenced on July 14, 2025, facing 3-to-9 years in state prison.
"Yaorong Wan used sleight-of-hand to pocket $260,000 worth of diamonds from two luxury jewelers," stated Bragg in a briefing. With New York being a global fashion capital, the successful plea showcases determined efforts by law enforcement to protect retailers of all sizes. While mentioning the precise tactics used by Wan, with sleight-of-hand being at the center of multiple jewelry inquiries, including a diamond ring valued at approximately $225,000 from Tiffany's esteemed location on Fifth Avenue, as per the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
According to court documents, on March 4, 2024, Wan conducted a simple yet effective switcheroo at Tiffany & Co., replacing a valuable ring with a counterfeit while misleadingly examining various pieces at about 2:51 p.m. It wasn't until a routine inventory check on March 11 that the staff discovered the swap. The genuine Tiffany ring—made of natural diamond and platinum—featured hallmark engravings and a unique SKU that the counterfeit—crafted from cubic zirconia and mounted in 18-carat white gold—lacked.
Shortly after, on March 12, Wan targeted Cartier at Hudson Yards around 1:30 p.m. Distracting the employee, he managed to leave with a $24,000 diamond engagement ring unnoticed, after feigning interest in several pieces. The prosecution of this case is handled by Assistant D.A. Adam Schuler of Trial Bureau 80, under the supervision of executives Assistant D.A.s Tricia Phillips, Siobhan Carty, and Lisa DelPizzo. NYPD Detective Scott Gomez, part of the NYPD Major Case Squad, received thanks from D.A. Bragg for his contributions to the case.
