Trini stylist to the stars jailed

NEW YORK: A stylist whose clients included Sean “P Diddy” Combs, Tyra Banks and Queen Latifah, was sentenced to three years in prison for pawning more than $1 million in jewelry he borrowed from Harry Winston, Piaget and other stores.

Derek Khan, 45, was sentenced on Wednesday by Manhattan State Supreme Court Justice Micki Scherer on his guilty plea to scheme to defraud. When arrested on March 5, Khan was charged with first-degree grand larceny and faced up to 25 years in prison. Khan was arrested after he failed to return jewelry worth “in excess of $1 million” that he had borrowed from last November through February “for exhibition, advertisement and marketing purposes,” a felony complaint said. Khan’s lawyer, Martin Schmukler, said the borrowed pieces included watches, rings, pendants and necklaces. Schmukler said Khan was paid “in the low six figures” when he hocked the jewelry. The lawyer said Khan had helped police get some of the pieces back. Khan, a native of Trinidad, had nothing to say when the judge gave him a chance to speak, but outside court before sentencing he said: “The worst part is disappointing people who have trusted me.” Besides Combs, Banks and Latifah, Khan said, his clients included Mary J Blige, Lauryn Hill, Pink, Snoop Dogg, Carlos Santana and Aretha Franklin. He will be eligible for parole after 18 months.