Man gets 7 years in jewlery theft ring

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - A man from Colombia was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for his role in a highly sophisticated jewelry theft ring in several states.

According to Neil MacBride with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newport News, William Leandro Herrera-Bohorquez, 33, was a member of a criminal group that stole more than $4 million in jewelry from Virginia residents, as well as people from six other states.

The eight-member ring was based in Richmond, and would follow "vulnerable individuals" to rob them at their homes or cars. They would steal victims' cell phones and slash their tires to reduce the risk of getting caught.

The ring re-sold some of the items in New York.

Herrera-Bohorquez also faces a $891,441 restitution and forfeiting of more than $4 million, as well as three years of supervised release.