An Arizona man charged with attempting to smuggle more than 65 diamonds from Brazil into the United States has pleaded guilty to a smuggling charge.
Guilherme Cipriani, of Scottsdale, was charged in April with attempting to smuggle 14 loose cut diamonds and 53 rough stones from São Paulo, Brazil, into the United States through Miami International Airport.
According to an August 2 filing in Florida federal court related to his plea, Cipriani was randomly searched by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the Miami airport on November 10. After the agents searched his bag, Cipriani admitted that he had purchased the diamonds in São Paulo, that he knew he had to declare them, and that he intended to sell them in the United States for profit.
None of the diamonds had a Kimberley Process Certificate, which is required for imports of rough diamonds. Cipriani also failed to declare the shipment on the customs form he completed prior to arrival.
As part of his guilty plea, Cipriani agreed to forfeit the 14 polished and 53 rough diamonds. A charge of making a false statement to a federal agency was dropped.
Cipriani’s attorney, Frank Quintero, declined to comment, citing local regulations.
