BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Almost 40 victims filled the courtroom on Monday for the sentencing of a Williamsville jeweler, who stole from and defrauded his customers for more than 20 years.
Paul Blarr was sentenced to 23 to 69 years in prison on multiple counts of grand larceny and scheme to fraud. He must also pay around a million dollars in restitution.
The 47-year-old is the former owner of RSNP Diamond Exchange and the Amherst Diamond Exchange. He was originally scheduled to be sentenced in October, after 89 customers came forward. However, since pleading guilty last May, 128 more victims came forward, bringing the total to 217.
The judge read the list of Blarr's more than 200 victims one-by-one and the amount of restitution they were owed.
Victims said Blarr would sell or swap out fake jewelry, using mossanite instead of diamonds, during his repair work.
Teresa Polenski said Blarr swindled her dying husband out of his last wish.
"My
story was that he passed away from esophageal cancer three years ago.
This was something important that he wanted to do, he wanted to leave an
heirloom and a legacy behind,” said Polenski.
After the sentencing, victims said they don't expect Blarr to be able to pay restitution, but they're relieved he will be behind bars for a long time.
"When we found out this ring was nothing but glass, the tears, the heartache. The satisfaction is that he's not going to be able to do this anymore, so I guess it was worth it,” said Elizabeth Gregg, a victim