Guilty in jewelry theft trial

A superior court jury has found David Uncangco guilty of multiple felony charges tied to the theft of more than $24,000 worth of jewelry in 2024. 

Jurors returned their verdict Friday in the trial of Uncangco and co-defendant Frances Janet Sahagon Cruz, stemming from thefts reported at aa pawnshop in Dededo and Vince Jewelers in East Hagåtña between late-March and early-April of 2024. Charging documents state a $334 gold coin was taken from the pawnshop, while approximately $24,000 in jewelry was reported stolen from the jewelry store.

Uncangco was convicted of four counts of retail theft as a second-degree felony, attempted theft by receiving as a third-degree felony, fraudulent use of a license plate as a third-degree felony, witness bribery as a third-degree felony, and tampering with a witness as a misdemeanor. He was found not guilty of possession of a schedule ii controlled substance and one count of attempted theft by receiving.

Cruz, who faced a single charge of witness bribery, was found not guilty after about a day and a half of jury deliberations.

Court records show Uncangco has been arrested more than a dozen times since 1990. He was previously convicted on federal charges related to two armed robberies in 2012 and served about eight years in prison.