In the course of his four year relationship with actress Anne Hathaway, her boyfriend Raffaello Follieri presented her with a number of tasteful gifts in the form of rings, a Rolex and other trinkets.
Unfortunately he did not pay for all these items legitimately. In June 2008, quite soon after the couple broke up, he was arrested by police and charged with a range of crimes through which he helped himself to large amounts of investors' money.
He is now serving four-and-a-half years for 14 counts of wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy.
Prosecutors pressed Hathaway into handing over the jewellery, initially as evidence in the case. Now, according to the New York Times, the pieces are to be sold at auction. Hathaway was offered, but waived, an opportunity to buy back the items.
The jewellery to be sold includes a pair of silver earrings, a silver chain with a cross pendant, a gold Rolex watch (worth $25,000), two gold rings, a five-strand pearl necklace and a Louis Vuitton box.
The auction will take place online over a thirty day period starting on December 12. It is likely that they will sell for more than their face value as fans of the star will treat them as memorabilia - albeit not the happiest association of the life so far.
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