ATF - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
07/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/23/2026 09:20
Waco jeweler and co-conspirator arrested, indicted for allegedly buying known stolen jewelry (DOJ)
WACO, Texas - The owner of a crafted precious metals dealer in Waco and an alleged co-conspirator were arrested this week on criminal charges related to their alleged dealings of stolen jewelry, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Clemond Earl Busby aka Bull, 65, of Waco, allegedly arranged for multiple jewelry store robbers to meet with Michael Wayne Habern Jr., 53, the owner of Waco Jewelers, in the parking lot of Habern's store for the purpose of selling stolen jewelry to Busby and Habern. At times, the robbers would allegedly negotiate transactions with both Busby and Habern. At other times, the indictment alleges, Busby would act as an intermediary between Habern and the robbers.
On one or more of the occasions, Busby and Habern allegedly received stolen jewelry from the robbers with price tags still attached and sometimes in display cases that were also taken from the jewelry stores during the robberies.
The indictment alleges that Busby and Habern would pay the robbers less than the true value of the jewelry and exclusively in cash.
Habern and Busby are both charged with one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, nine counts of accessory after the fact, and one count of misprision of a felony. If convicted, they both face up to 113 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI, Texas Anti-Gang Taskforce, Waco Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Department of Homeland Security, Austin Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Blanton is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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