Men Trade Stolen Alex and Ani Bracelets for Handcuffs after Cops Respond to their Craigslist Ad

On craigslist, you'll find used cars, old toys and all sorts of assorted and occasionally weird stuff for sale. But you wouldn't expect to find Alex and Ani bracelets that hadn't been released to the public yet.

But detectives out of the Rhode Island State Police Major Crimes Unit did find the bracelets on the classified ad Web site and responded to the ad.

They met with a man, identified as Manuel Pagan, 27, of 104 Sayles St., Apt. 106, Woonsocket, who was offering unfinished, unreleased bracelets for sale "at a substantially below-market value," said Col. Steven G. O'Donnell, superintendent of the state police in a release. 

"Detectives were able to quickly determine that the bracelets were stolen," O'Donnell said.

Detectives soon determined the bracelets were stolen by an employee of the plating manufacturer, Cinerama Jewelry on Pettaconsett Avenue in Cranston, before being released for sale. That man was identified as Hector Bonilla, 26, of 104 Sayles St., Apt. 407, Woonsocket.

Both Bonilla and Pagan were charged with felony receiving stolen goods over $1,500 and felony larceny over $1,500.

Both men were arraigned and released on personal recognizance.

The loss to the manufacturer is estimated to be about $3,600.

If convicted, both men face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to 10 years in prison.