'Jedi Knight' Sentenced for Selling Stolen Connecticut Jewelry

A Schenectady, N.Y. man was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his part in stealing and selling jewelry.

Miguel Mead, 33, was a member of a group of jewelry thieves that called themselves the “Jedi Knights,” according to the U.S. Attorney District of Connecticut office.

The group targeted homes in Connecticut and elsewhere on the eastern seaboard in search of money, jewelry and firearms.

Two of Mead’s fellow disreputable knights burglarized a residence in Salisbury and stole about 250 pieces of jewelry valued at more than $2.5 million.

The two associates traveled to a hotel in New York and met another accomplice who identified the jewelry as being very valuable. The three set off to North Carolina and purchased a ticket for Mead to join them.

Mead was given several pieces of jewelry to sell and a North Carolina business bought them for more than $11,500. The pieces were melted down. Among one of the pieces was a unique gold broach purchased for $800 that had a value of $50,000.

Mead was arrested in June 2015 and pleaded guilty to one count of sale or receipt of stolen goods in October.

An order of restitution will be issued at a later date.