Niroula came to the United States in 2002 as a student, and since then he has become entangled in an academic controversy that felled a college president, a lawsuit alleging a $500,000 fraud in Hawaii, a San Francisco police investigation alleging a $485,000 theft, and now the Novato jewelry case. As a student at the New College of California in San Francisco, Niroula became a friend of the college president, Martin Hamilton. In 2006, their relationship prompted staff complaints that Hamilton showed Niroula special treatment – including changing his grades and waiving tuition – in exchange for a $1 million pledge to the school. The college’s accreditor, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, placed the school on probation and launched an investigation. Martin ultimately resigned, acknowledging irregularities but denying any grade-fixing. “If anything, I’m open and naive,” Hamilton told Insider High Ed, an industry publication. “I am guilty of treating him differently. É (But) the allegation that I was giving him a degree in exchange for a million bucks – that is just degrading to my soul.” The donation was never made; Niroula reportedly told the school that he had $3.5 million that was inaccessible because of the political unrest in Nepal. Niroula, in the jail interview, denied receiving undeserved treatment at the school and said he was “used as a tool” by faculty malcontents “to bring Martin Hamilton down.” Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed in federal court in San Francisco claims that Niroula scammed a woman out of $508,000 in 2006. The woman, Megumi Hisamatsu of Japan, says she was befriended by Niroula while she was on a trip to Hawaii, and that he claimed to be a wealthy businessman who could get her a commerce visa if she would invest in his real estate proposals. Under Niroula’s direction, Hisamatsu agreed to open an account at the Bank of Hawaii and wire funds into it, the lawsuit claims. Hisamatsu says Niroula forged checks and stole her money, then claimed he borrowed the funds to save family members from Nepalese kidnappers. Hisamatsu sued Niroula and the bank for the funds plus $2.5 million each in general damages. The bank has denied responsibility and asked a judge to dismiss the suit, and further hearings are set for Sept. 19. Earlier this year, San Francisco police opened an investigation into whether Niroula took $485,000 from an associate to buy a painting, but spent the money on a gambling trip to Las Vegas instead, according to court documents. San Francisco authorities obtained a $250,000 warrant for Niroula’s arrest. Niroula, aware of the looming warrant, needed to raise $25,000, or 10 percent of the warrant amount, to post bail, so he stole jewelry from the 78-year-old mother of a friend in Novato, authorities said. Then he allegedly gave the jewelry to an associate in exchange for bail money.

His friend was Stephen Valentino, 54, who lives with his mother, InaMae Valentino. Niroula was a friend for five years and occasionally stayed with the Valentinos. “This has been one of the most disheartening and painful experiences in my life because this is somebody I cared about and I believed was a true friend,” Valentino said. “He’s a very charming, a delightful person – most con artists are, if they’re good at it.” Valentino describes himself as a nationally syndicated radio host and entertainer who has worked in musicals, opera, film, television and voiceovers. Niroula, however, claims Valentino has never held a real job and in fact needed Niroula’s financial assistance to pay his mortgage and buy a washer/dryer. “When people open their mouth and talk, they don’t realize the repercussions of what comes out of it or consider the results,” Niroula said. “It ends up hurting somebody else. I’m going to have to carry this scar for the rest of my life.” Valentino declined to comment on Niroula’s remarks. “I know that the truth will come out,” Valentino said. “There’s so much that just doesn’t make sense.” The jewelry’s value is listed in police reports as more than $300,000, although Niroula’s supporters dispute its actual worth. The jewelry was recovered by Marin sheriff’s investigators. Niroula pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of theft and embezzlement of an elder adult, and D’Opal ordered him to return to court Sept. 3 for a preliminary examination of the evidence. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney Linda Witong. Niroula remained in custody at the county jail Friday night. Courtesy of www.marinij.com

Here are excerpts of the Story:

“I dropped it off to get the diamond replaced, and the sales representative said, ‘I’m having a little bit of a problem getting it back but don’t worry I’ll get it back for you,” said Kim.”

Kim left her wedding ring at Whitehall Jewelry Store at the Plaza Camino Real, and three weeks later she still hasn’t gotten it back.

Kim said a Whitehall sales representative told her that her ring was at another jeweler.

“He let me know that, ‘Here’s the story — our jeweler is saying that we owe him money so he’s not returning the jewelry and he said it’s not only your jewelry, there’s six other people …,” said Kim.

It is a response the Waites dreaded.

They also found out Whitehall Jewelers is going out of business.

The couple believes a fight between the store and its jeweler is not their problem.

Davin said, “We didn’t volunteer to be pawned in their sick little game, you know. Let them fight it out with each other.”

The Better Business Bureau said the jewelry store is responsible because the items were placed in its care. While most companies hold insurance, the Waites might just be out of luck because Whitehall Jewelers has filed for bankruptcy. News Story

My question is: Should they have to deal with that for simply wanting their diamond replaced? Leave your comments.