Former jewelry store owner found guilty

Posted 11/7/19

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Former jewelry store owner found guilty

Posted Thursday, November 7, 2019 5:22 pm

By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorA Warren County jury convicted a former Warrenton jewelry store owner for his role in a burglary and theft ring that was broken up in 2008.Michael Sifrit, 49, of Imperial, was found guilty on all four felony charges of receiving stolen property. Authorities said a couple burglarized four Warren County homes and primarily stole jewelry and firearms. The stolen property was purchased by Sifrit, who police allege used his business as a front for selling the items.It took the jury a little over an hour to reach the verdict Nov. 16 at the conclusion of the two-day trial.Sifrit will be sentenced on Jan. 5, 2016. He faces up to seven years in prison on each charge, according to Warren County Prosecuting Attorney Kelly King.Sifrit previously owned S&S Jewelers, located at the intersection of Highway 47 and Veterans Memorial Parkway in Warrenton. The business was at the location for approximately two years and previously was at the outlet mall.Before moving his business to Warrenton, Sifrit owned a pawn shop and jewelry store in Washington.Just prior to authorities raiding Sifrit’s business on Dec. 3, 2008, he was recorded on a hidden wire about how he had obtained 72 guns from Kibb Howard, who had been arrested the day before for allegedly breaking into homes in five counties with his wife, Carla Howard.Sifrit also encouraged Kibb Howard to obtain jewelry and firearms, specifically rifles, which Sifrit said he could move more easily, according to a probable cause statement.In an interview following his arrest, Sifrit told authorities he believed the items brought to him by Howard were stolen, the probable cause statement shows.Sifrit did not testify at last week’s trial.Instead, those who testified against him included local homeowners who had their homes burglarized and police who detailed the recorded conversation prior to Sifrit’s arrest.“That was the piece of evidence that convinced the jury,” King told The Record.The Howards, formerly of Laddonia, told police they burglarized homes to feed their heroin addiction. At the time of their arrest, the couple and their three children were staying at a friend’s house in Truesdale.In their 45-day crime spree, they allegedly broke into homes in Warren, Lincoln, Montgomery, Audrain and Pike counties. All of the burglaries happened during the day.Authorities reported Carla Howard would approach a house and knock on a door. If someone answered, she would give a reason for being there. If the home was unoccupied at the time, her husband would leave their vehicle and kick the door down.The arrests were the culmination of an investigation from several law enforcement agencies that included witnesses identifying a red Jeep in the same area of the burglaries and aliases used by Kibb Howard.During the raid at Sifrit’s business, officers seized several guns, a computer and a number of jewelry items. Guns, televisions, knives and electronic equipment also were found at Sifrit’s residence in Fenton.Carla Howard was sentenced to 14 years in prison for her part in the theft ring. She pleaded guilty to six counts of second-degree burglary and six counts of stealing. A seven-year sentence also was ordered to run concurrently after she pled guilty to heroin possession and three counts of child endangerment. She completed the 120-day “shock” time in prison and concluded a five-year stint on probation.Kibb Howard remains in prison. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to the same charges as his wife and was sentenced to 10 years. All of his sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

Used business as front for selling stolen property.

Former jewelry store owner found guilty

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Former jewelry store owner found guilty

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Former jewelry store owner found guilty