Operation ‘Somer Gold:’ Franklin Jeweler Indicted, Stolen Items Recovered

Indictments come from last summer's Operation 'Somer Gold'

The owner of a Franklin “cash for gold” store was indicted on several charges related to last summer’s Operation “Somer Gold” sting by local, county and state law enforcement.

David H. Rubin, 55, of Highland Park, owner of Wireless Source/Cash For Gold on Hamilton Street, was indicted on charges of 3rd Degree fencing, 3rd Degree receiving stolen property, two counts of 3rd and 4th Degree attempted receipt of stolen property, two counts of 4th Degree hindering apprehension or prosecution, and 3rd Degree tampering with public records, according to a release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

While selling gold jewelry to Rubin as part of the operation, undercover investigators noticed “multiple” violations of state law regarding the sale of precious metals and second-hand jewelery, the release said.

A search of the store revealed “numerous items of suspected stolen property, to include miscellaneous gold jewelry, collectable coins, cellular telephones, computers, and construction equipment,” police said in the release. “Thereafter, numerous burglary victims positively identified property removed from Wireless Source a/k/a Cash For Gold as property they reported stolen during residential, commercial, and automobile burglaries committed in Franklin and Hillsborough townships between April 23, 2010 and July 31, 2013.”

According to the indictment, “Rubin hindered his own apprehension and prosecution by lying to various police officers who were assisting with the undercover inspection.” The indictment also alleges that Rubin “tampered with a public record by making a false entry in a Franklin Township Police Department property receipt,” according to the release.

Also indicted was Michal Khalaf, 51, of South Plainfield, the owner of Khalaf Jewelers in Bound Brook.

Operation “Somer Gold” was an undercover inspection of eight Somerset County “cash for gold” businesses and jewelry stores.

Another Somerset store, Venus Jewelers in Rutgers Plaza, was cited for 439 violations of state consumer protection laws regarding cash for gold operations. The store later pleaded guilty to 10 violations, and was hit with more than $5,000 in fines and fees.

The operation was conducted by detectives with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, along with investigators from the state Office of Weights & Measures, and the Somerset County Office of Weights & Measures.

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