A California based jeweler has allegedly scammed Drew Brees and his wife. As per reports, the Saints quarterback has alleged in a recent lawsuit that he was cheated of around $9 million by a California Jeweler who had assured the couple that the value of the jewelry items bought would appreciate. However, Brees later discovered that he was overcharged and wants at least $9 million in damages.
Reportedly, Brees and wife Brittany filed the lawsuit on Monday in California Superior Court against Vahid Moradi of CJ Charles Jewelers. Notably, Moradi had become close to the Brees family while Brees spent the early days of his career with the Chargers, who moved from San Diego to Los Angeles last year.
The friendship continued even after Brees joined the Saints in the year 2006 and from 2012 to 2016, the lawsuit alleged that the couple had spent about $15 million on diamonds as well as investments. The purchases included a blue diamond ring for which Moradi charged about $8.2 million while an expert appraiser told the couple later that it was worth closer to $3.6 million.
The appraiser was hired by the Breeses after their financial advisor advised that they submit the diamonds for an evaluation. The expert said that they had been overcharged by a sum of around $9 million. The suit claims that Brees confronted Moradi on the matter and the jeweler admitted that he charged a substantial markup.
The lawsuit reads, “Moradi confessed he charged plaintiffs a substantial markup. Moradi insisted that he had done nothing wrong because he charged the plaintiffs the price at which Moradi expected the jewelry could be resold in ten to fifteen years because Moradi knew plaintiffs wanted a ‘long-term investment.”
As per the lawsuit filed, it seeks to recover about $9 million in damages and also includes a refund of $244,000 that Moradi had taken from the couple for a watch which they eventually decided not to buy.
