OKEECHOBEE — Patrick Caldwell was sentenced to 21 days in county jail after pleading no contest to a grand theft charge. Caldwell was arrested and charged with grand theft in January of 2017 after selling some gold jewelry to a local couple and then switching it out for less valuable pieces.

In October 2016, Okeechobee City Police Officer Cesar Romero was dispatched to the 14 Carat Gold Store in reference to some suspicious people. When he arrived, he made contact with Caldwell and a woman identified as Chantaval Young. The couple told Romero they were there to sell some gold and were not detained.

Inside the store, the jeweler told Romero the duo had approached her about purchasing 714 grams of gold chains and medallions. After testing, she said the gold was worth about $16,000 and offered to pay them $9,000 cash. They refused, hoping to get more money.

They found a second possible buyer later that day. An Okeechobee County Sheriff’s detective advised the buyers not to purchase the gold saying it sounded too good to be true, but after testing the gold themselves and having it tested by another jeweler, they decided to buy it. They paid Caldwell $12,500 in cash and received the gold in exchange. They made sure it was the same gold they had tested earlier, but Caldwell suddenly grabbed the bag of gold and took it back to his vehicle saying he was not sure he wanted to make the sale after all. Finally, Caldwell seemed to decide to go ahead with it and gave the baggie to Young to return to the buyers. When the buyers returned home, they realized they had been duped and called the sheriff’s department.

In addition to his sentence of 21 days, Caldwell was also ordered to pay restitution to his victims.

Young was sentenced to five years probation in 2018 and was also ordered to make restitution.