A Diamond District jeweler was busted yesterday for allegedly orchestrating the hijacking of a FedEx truck in a bungled attempt to steal millions of dollars worth of gems – and then planning to try it again.
Brian Greenwald, president of Doppelt & Greenwald, is also suspected of being in on the robbery of nearly $5 million worth of gems from his wholesale business in 2005.
He led a dozen thugs who hijacked a FedEx truck at gunpoint on 11th Avenue at 47th Street on Dec. 20, 2007, according to a Manhattan federal court complaint.
They got the truck, but the hapless thieves had to abandon it – its contents intact – when they couldn’t figure out how to offload the baubles, which were in containers locked to the floor.
They were was poised to strike again the night of Nov 27, but FBI agents were waiting at the FedEx facility.
The Nov. 29, 2005, robbery at Greenwald’s offices was pulled off by two men in FedEx uniforms.