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MTA Worker Sentenced to 26 Years in Prison for Celebrity Jeweler’s Death

Victim Aron “Eric” Aranbayev (Instagram Rafalllo_eric)

March 21, 2018 By Tara Law

The MTA train operator convicted of killing a celebrity jeweler in July 2015 in Forest Hills has been sentenced to up to 26 years in prison, the Queens District Attorney announced Wednesday.

Charles Jordan, a 48-year-old Long Island resident, ran over Aron “Eric” Aranbayev, 40, on 71st Avenue in a fit of road rage. He was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and felony leaving the scene of an incident.

Aranbayev was being dropped off near his home around 11 p.m. when Jordan drove by at high speed. When Aranbayev yelled at him to slow down, Jordan backed up his car to confront him. The two men were arguing when Jordan suddenly backed up his car, hit the gas and struck Aranbayev. Jordan sped away without stopping.

Aranbayev suffered a skull fracture and brain damage, ultimately dying from his injuries.

“Today’s sentence, imposed by the Court, punishes the defendant for this vicious act that arose out of a petty dispute,” said Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. “This was a senseless death that could have easily been avoided.”

Aranbayev was known for selling famous clients jewelry at his Manhattan store, Rafaello & Co. Several of his customers, including boxer Floyd Mayweather, offered rewards for information about his death.

Aranbayev was the father of three young children, the youngest of whom was six months old at the time of his death.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

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