Trio arrested in suspected scheme to steal, sell gold coins

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – Three people are behind bars after police said they took part in a suspected scheme to steal and sell gold coins.

Three people are behind bars after police said they took part in a suspected scheme to steal and sell gold coins.

An affidavit stated on Tuesday, Nov. 19, the Jonesboro Police Department Street Crimes Unit got a call about three people at the United Pawnbrokers on Gee Street trying to sell a gold coin suspected of being stolen “based on how nervous the individuals were acting.”

Investigators met with the trio consisting of 29-year-old James Michael Shaver, 30-year-old Jerome Jamal Phillips, and 41-year-old Helen Jean Newsome, all of Jonesboro. Shaver was found to be on active probation, while Phillips and Newsome were on active parole.

Police said all three suspects had different answers about where the coin came from.

A probation search on Shaver revealed a plastic bag with 17 blue clonazepam pills stuffed in his groin area. Inside his phone were messages detailing plans to steal several coins and a gun from a home in the 700 block of Amberwood Cove. A picture of a gun sent about selling it was also found in his phone and messages attempting to sell the clonazepam pills.

Investigators then moved to Shaver’s vehicle, in which they found a .38 special revolver matching the picture on his phone and several collectible coins. There was also a bag that contained a stolen credit card.

Searches were also conducted on Phillips and Newsome. Investigators found several items on Phillips, including a THC vape pen, more collectible coins, meth, and a large stack of credit and debit cards that did not have his name on them, and one was reported stolen.

As for Newsome, investigators found two clonazepam pills on her, as well as two digital scales in her purse, and several cases of collectible coins. A search of her phone revealed messages where Newsome was trying to sell the gun and meth.

Police said Shaver confessed to taking Phillips and Newsome to the Amberwood Cove home and stealing the coins and gun. He also admitted to trying to sell the weapon. Newsome also confessed to stealing the coins and trying to sell the gun and meth.

In a separate interview, Phillips denied knowing where the stolen card or coins in his pockets came from.

The affidavit stated after Shaver was booked into the Craighead County Detention Center on Wednesday, Nov. 20, he was caught by jail staff passing out more clonazepam pills to inmates.

“In another interview, Shaver confessed to sneaking the pills into the jail under his testicles and passing them out,” the court document said.

Investigators also said when Newsome was taken to the detention center, jail staff managed to find “meth in a plastic bag concealed in her vagina.”

Craighead County District Court Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause to charge all three suspects on Friday, Nov. 23.

Shaver is being held on a $350,000 cash/surety bond and faces the following charges:

Phillips is being held on a $175,000 cash/surety bond and faces the following charges:

Newsome is being held on a $150,000 cash/surety bond and faces the following charges:

According to court documents, all three suspects were also given a no-contact order.

They are scheduled to be back in court on Monday, Dec. 16.

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