A former Warrenton jewelry store owner was sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in a burglary and theft ring that was busted by police in 2008.Michael Sifrit, 49, of Imperial, was sentenced to seven years each on all four felony charges of receiving stolen property during a hearing Jan. 5. Circuit Judge Wes Dalton ordered the sentences to run concurrent.Authorities said Sifrit purchased stolen property from a couple who burglarized four Warren County homes in 2008 and used his business as a front for selling the items.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.During a raid of Sifrit’s business Dec. 3, 2008, authorities 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.Just prior to the raid, Sifrit was recorded on a hidden wire about how he had obtained 72 guns from Kibb Howard, who had been arrested the day before for breaking into homes in five counties with his wife, Carla.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 police he believed the items brought to him by Howard were stolen.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, police said they 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 were aided by witnesses identifying a red Jeep in the same area of the burglaries and aliases used by Kibb Howard.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 plead guilty to heroin possession and three counts of child endangerment. She completed a 120-day “shock” time in prison and concluded a five-year stint on probation.Kibb Howard remains in prison and is in the middle of serving a 10-year sentence. He pleaded guilty to the same charges as his wife. All of his sentences were ordered to run concurrently.Michael Sifrit