August 2, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

High-End Beverly Hills Watch Dealer Sentenced to Over 5 Years for $5.6M Fraud

“The Timepiece Gentleman” Ran Luxury Watch Scheme, Defrauded Clients

“The Timepiece Gentleman” was sentenced Wednesday to 70 months in federal prison for defrauding dozens of customers out of at least $5.6 million through his Beverly Hills luxury watch consignment business.

Anthony Farrer, 36, formerly of downtown Los Angeles, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton after pleading guilty in October 2024 to one count of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. He has been in federal custody since November 2023.

“This defendant stole millions of dollars from customers who trusted him and then used his ill-gotten gains to fund his exorbitant lifestyle,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “The sentence imposed today sends a message that those who defraud the public will be held accountable.”

Authorities said Farrer operated his business, also called “The Timepiece Gentleman,” as a high-end watch consignment service, connecting buyers and sellers of luxury watches, including brands such as Rolex, Richard Mille, and Patek Philippe. Under typical consignment agreements, clients would ship their watches to Farrer, who agreed to display and market them at his Beverly Hills store and online. Once a watch was sold, Farrer was supposed to remit the sales proceeds to the client minus a consignment fee of approximately 5%. If a watch remained unsold, Farrer was expected to return it to the client.

Instead, federal prosecutors said Farrer sold client watches and kept the proceeds. In some cases, he used client watches as collateral for personal loans without their knowledge or permission. When questioned about the status of a consigned watch, Farrer falsely told clients the watch had not yet been sold despite having already disposed of it for personal gain.

Farrer also purported to purchase watches on behalf of clients, accepting funds via wire transfer or payment processors such as Zelle. However, he used the money to finance his luxury lifestyle, which included leasing high-end cars, apartments, and other extravagant purchases. In some instances, he sent clients substitute watches—often belonging to other unwitting customers—to create a false sense of security regarding the status of their transactions. Prosecutors compared the scheme to a Ponzi operation.

“The so-called ‘Timepiece Gentleman’ was actually a con man whose time living lavishly ran out when the high-end watch owners he victimized brought his crimes to the attention of law enforcement,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Farrer defrauded more than 40 victims, causing total losses of at least $5,691,005. He will also be subject to a restitution order, with the exact amount to be determined.

The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Beverly Hills Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua O. Mausner of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted the case.

in News
Related Posts

Free Document Shredding, Electronics Recycling Set for Saturday in Culver City

August 1, 2025

August 1, 2025

Culver City Offers Secure Way to Recycle Tech and Shred Paper This Weekend Residents will have the opportunity to responsibly...

Last Call: Culver City Wants Your Input in Hiring Its Next City Manager

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025

Public Survey Open Through August 1 Invites Residents to Weigh In As Culver City begins its search for a new...

1,000 Additional National Guard Troops Withdrawn From LA as Federal Presence Continues to Shrink

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025

National Guard Presence in Los Angeles Slashed Again Amid Ongoing Rollback Roughly an additional 1,000 National Guard troops have been...

Luxury Watches Stolen From Keanu Reeves Recovered in Chile, To Be Returned to Actor

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025

Six Rolex Watches Worth Over $120,000 Were Seized in Santiago Police Raid Six high-end watches stolen from actor Keanu Reeves’...

Aging Mindfully: Zen-Inspired Senior Living Takes Shape in Simi Valley

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025

Two Zen-inspired senior living communities are embracing the reality of aging — consciously. Ensō Village, open since 2023 in Sonoma County,...

Trio of Suspects Busted in $50K Beauty Heist at Culver City Store

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025

Burglars Try to Flee, But Culver City PD Catches All ThreePolice arrested three suspects late Sunday night following a break-in...

Lulu Hosts Summer Tardeada With Guest Chef From Oakland’s Bombera

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

Chef Dominica Rice-Cisneros Joins Alice Waters for a Courtyard Celebration Lulu, the acclaimed restaurant located at the Hammer Museum, will...

Film Review: Together

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

By Dolores Quintana Dave Franco and Alison Brie, a married couple in real life, star in Michael Shanks’ gruesomely passionate...

Heidi Klum’s Tropical Erewhon Smoothie Drops Just in Time for Summer

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

Supermodel’s Limited-Edition Drink Blends Kiwi, Coconut, and Matcha Erewhon has debuted its newest celebrity smoothie collaboration, this time with supermodel...

‘Challahboration’ Hits Culver City with Sausage-Stuffed Treats and French Cruller Flair

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

Nyletta, Nyletta and Challah Dad Serve Summer Sizzle in Culver City A limited-run culinary collaboration is coming to Hi-Lo Liquor...

UCLA Agrees to $6.1 Million Settlement Over Alleged Discrimination During Campus Protests

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

Faculty Group Argued Protest Wasn’t Antisemitic; Judge Approval Still Pending UCLA will pay more than $6 million to settle a...

Tsunami Advisory Issued for Los Angeles Coast After 8.7 Quake Near Russia

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

Strong Currents, Surges Expected; Residents Urged to Avoid Beaches and Harbors Update from NWS Los Angeles at 6:50 a.m. “Latest...

Brazen Wheel Thieves Hit Beverly Grove, Hollywood Neighborhoods

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

Early-Morning Thefts Leave Cars on Blocks; Residents Coordinate  Los Angeles police are investigating a growing number of wheel thefts reported...

Westchester Del Rey Stuns Tucson With 11-Run Inning to Reach World Series

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

 Westside Team Heads to Greenville, North Carolina to Compete for Glory  Westchester Del Rey Little League is headed to the...

Felony Charges Dropped for Man in UCLA Encampment Attack After Diversion Deal

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Malachi Marlan-Librett Must Complete Therapy, Anti-bias Training in Hate Crime Case The only person charged with a felony in connection...