Pawn Shop Owner Faces 106 Criminal Charges

As a result of a residential burglary investigation in April, the owner of Carroll County Jewelry and Loan on Bond Street in Westminster was charged Tuesday with 106 criminal charges. 

On April 6, Maryland State troopers responded to a burglary in the 3300 block of Heavenly Cause Court in Mount Airy. The victim told police that unknown suspects had entered the residence and stolen jewelry valued in excess of $70,000, according to a news release.

During the investigation it was discovered that the stolen items were pawned at Carroll County Jewelry and Loan in Westminster. Police said the items pawned were not recorded in the Maryland Pawn Database as required by law. 

Criminal investigators from the Westminster Barrack Criminal Investigation Section, with assistance of the Westminster Police Department, executed a search and seizure warrant at the pawn shop on April 8. During the execution of the search warrant, numerous pieces of the stolen jewelry were recovered along with 13 illegal firearms.  Members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Maryland State Police Firearms Unit responded to the scene to conduct the follow up investigation involving the illegal firearms.

On December 13, Richard Benjamin Rivkin, 41, of Sykesville, was charged with 106 criminal charges related to this investigation.  According to a news release, the criminal charges were:  71 counts of various firearms violations; 3 counts of Controlled Dangerous Substance – Possession with Intent to Distribute; 31 counts of Business Regulation violations; and 1 count of theft $10,000 – under $100,000.

Additionally, on June 16, an employee of the pawn shop, Andrew Rowdon, 25, of Sykesville, was charged with theft $10,000 to under $100,000 in reference to this investigation.