Confessed jewel thief sentenced to 20 years

TAMPA -- A jewel thief who stole from stores and homes across the country was sentenced Friday to 20 years in federal prison.

Paul E. Mathieson, 42, was the ringleader of a gang that during the past 15 years stole at least $4-million in gold, guns and jewels, including 4,500 carats in diamonds.

Mathieson entered into a plea agreement in federal court early this year and in June he admitted his guilt.

He tried to get out of the deal a few months ago, saying he had been misled. But U.S. District Court Judge James Moody told him he was obviously a smart person and knew what he was doing. Moody said he had to keep the deal, which stated that Mathieson and others stole from jewelry stores in Miami, Winter Park and Clearwater, among other places.

He stole from an antiques store in Seminole and a bingo parlor in Tampa, court documents showed. He's also linked to a theft of an ATM at GTE Federal Credit Union in Largo in January 1998 and a heist at 49th Street Pawn and Gun in Pinellas Park.

Mathieson already served several years in prison in the early 1990s for a 1986 Christmas morning burglary in Miami. He also admitted to breaking into a refinery plant in Hialeah in 1988. Mathieson used alarm systems and safes to practice his technique.

In court, Mathieson dismissed his lawyers and represented himself.

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