Insurance company sued over Jennifer Lopez jewelry scam - New York Post
A Madison Avenue jeweler was duped into lending $3.2 million worth of merchandise to a conman who claimed superstar Jennifer Lopez was borrowing the baubles for a photo shoot — and now the boutique is suing its insurer.
Vintage and contemporary pieces from Stephen Russell have been featured in Vogue and W magazines.
In March 2017, a man going by the name of Paul Castellana, who claimed to work for Sony, contacted the jeweler about lending two pieces to “high-profile celebrity Jennifer Lopez,” according to the Manhattan civil suit.
Two people later picked up the items, but never returned them.
The jeweler eventually learned he’d been duped by James Sabatino, who pulled off the con from a Florida federal prison by calling luxury retailers and pretending to represent recording artists, the suit says.
Sabatino pleaded guilty earlier this month.
A rep for the insurance company, Lloyd’s of London, did not return messages for comment.
