Jacob the Jeweler, well known for providing hip-hop’s biggest
names with high-end custom jewelry, is reportedly calling on his celebrity clients
to testify as defense witnesses at his upcoming federal money-laundering trial.

Jacob (born Jacob Arabov) was arrested last year on a warrant issued in Detroit
by federal authorities accusing him of conspiring with others to launder money
through his jewelry business. The infamous jeweler was among 16 people indicted
by a Michigan District Attorney in May for violating federal drug laws and laundering
an excess of $270 million. Jacob is accused of accepting "dirty" money
generated by Atlanta-based drug organization the Black Mafia Family
(BMF) and giving them jewelry in return without reporting the transactions.

According to a source close to the New York Post, Sean "Diddy"
Combs, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey and soccer player David Beckham,
top the list of witnesses drawn up by the infamous jeweler. Benjamin Brafman,
Jacob’s lawyer, refused to comment on specific witnesses, but said his client’s
customers would testify about Jacob’s good character and how "they themselves
made substantial purchases in cash from him and all the money was handled properly."

Brafman filed a motion in October requesting Jacob’s case to be moved to New
York, because it would be too costly for his client to defend himself in Detroit,
plus many of Jacob’s witnesses are located in New York "Trying to coordinate
flying them into Detroit is a logistical nightmare that is beyond comprehension,"
Brafman explained to the Post.

In the aforementioned motion, Brafman also requested that Jacob be tried separately
from the BMF members. Prosecutors agreed but only if he gets tried with two
other accused money launderers. Brafman and Jacob are awaiting a decision on
a defense motion to toss the money-laundering charge. If the charge isn’t dismissed,
Brafman wants his client’s case severed from the other two, so Jacob can stand
trial alone in New York

Arabov’s indictment, which is part of a previous indictment alleging that the
BMF distributed 476 kilos of cocaine throughout the US since the early ’90s,
also seeks criminal forfeiture of more than 30 pieces of jewelry, in addition
to a number of residences and cars. Jacob pleaded not guilty to the money laundering
charges in a Detroit court in July and was released on $100,000 bond.