Two jewelers charged for not reporting sales to York County DA's office

The owners of two area jewelers face charges for their alleged noncompliance with the county's computer-based purchase reporting system, according to a news release from DA Dave Sunday.

Reporting each sale — which precious metals dealers are mandated by law to do — is critical to helping law enforcement track crimes.

"Data from this website has proven to be an invaluable tool, aiding municipal law enforcement officers in solving drug and property crimes, and helping to reunite stolen items with their rightful owners," Sunday said.

Sunday said the two charged are James Zimmerman of Zimmerman Jewelers, 1940 W. Market St., West Manchester Township, and Dennis Steinmetz of Steinmetz Coins and Currency, 2861 E. Prospect Road, York Township.

The two were charged with one count each of failing to provide records of transactions to District Attorney, a third-degree misdemeanor. The charges were filed July 2 after months of investigation and compliance meetings, according to the release. 

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Steinmetz has a preliminary hearing on Aug. 13 before District Judge Scott Laird, while Zimmerman has a preliminary hearing Aug. 27 before District Judge Keith L. Albright.

"Both owners were contacted on January 15 of this year advising them that they were to return to compliance, however, from February 1 to current, Zimmerman Jewelers had a 37% compliance rate, while Steinmetz Coins and Currency had a compliance rate of just 17%," the release states.

"The reports were all filed, they just weren't filed in a timely basis" Zimmerman said Thursday. "

Steinmetz could be reached for comment Wednesday.

A statute in the Pennsylvania Crimes Code requires that precious metals dealers provide the DA with a copy of every record of transaction by the close of the next working day after the day on which the metal is purchased.

According to Sunday, over the past two years, his office has "invested significant time and money in an effort to make submissions easier on precious metals dealers by creating a web-based reporting system."

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The program now includes Lebanon County, with expansion planned for Cumberland County. At present, there are more than 50 precious metal dealers using the website, who maintain an average 94% compliance rate, the release states.

Contact Ted Czech at 717-771-2033.