European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 26, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Daily a Magazine by Barbara Rosen associated Pressi n Manhattan s tradition bound Diamond District Barbara Mangia Mcl was different a Young italian american Catholic woman in an Industry dominated by jewish men an outsider who wait to school Loi the expertise More Otten passed Down through families. Bui in is not Barbara Mangiameli s Success in the Diamond business that its denizens Wilt remember. A Niamet 33, disappeared feb. 4 along with More Inan $500.000 in diamonds the Day after a proposed sate Fel through to june her body was found in the Hudson River she had been bludgeoned of death. Only one of the six missing jewels has been recovered she was just an innocent victim says Laura Hruska executive director of the Diamond & jewelry association inc. The lesson that has to be Learned from this is that. You have to take care of yourself you have to take every  aside ram Mangiameli s deals there have been three other murders this year in the Block i Midtown Manhattan bounded by 46th and 471h streets and fifth and sixth avenues which is the Diamond District s heart that s High or a business area says a detective. A walk Down 47lh sleet where Gokl filled windows Iron Onlo rooms crowded with jewelry Laden counters suggests the business s inherent risk gems Are easily portable readily negotiable highly valuable things. Danger says one dealer is an occupational Hazard but some say something is wrong when a Young relatively inexperienced unprotected woman is allowed to carry half a million dollars Worth of jewels loan unknown prospective buyer. As is customary in the Industry Mangiameli Only had to sign memos to receive he diamonds on consignment irom a broker with whom she d done business Belore. This was an enormous Deal and Way beyond Barbara s league says Dexta Shapiro Mangiameli b . If things Aren t changed it can happen again and h we happen  bom in Brooklyn and raised on Long Bland Mangiameli earned a two year associate s degree in business and went to work in advertising Lor More than seven years. Slim at Tefie with Tang dark Brown Naif she i remembered by friends and associates As sincere kind family oriented. In 1986. She decided to go into the jewelry business she was always interested in things Ike archaeology and gems and stones and physics Shapiro says. Mangiameli started out Selling what Are rated findings jewelry parts and raw Metal. When her merest turned to diamonds she entered the gemological Institute of America in june 1987, to Leain what Are known in the Trade As the Lour c s color clarity Carat weight and Cut. She emerged an accredited expert in the Quality of diamonds and other precious stones. She had Mel a broker chaises Fischler who says he became he Mentor in the Diamond  he describes her As a woman of simple elegance one who wore Lite makeup or jewelry mar Eye he says was on the  so she was in the right place last year 80 percent of the $3.4 billion in non Industrial diamonds thai entered the United states came into new York. Jew Fry torn on 47tt St in now York it Mona Ali tract a than a frs pm Foi have taken place the year. Much of the actual Diamond dealing is conducted in secure offices or in courses Ike the Diamond dealers club on West 47th Street there amid High tech Security Ansta Loht Flat business conveniences a Cfred by three computer systems men in Long beards lean across narrow tables Millered with pieces of while waxed paper. Tweezers in hand and Loupe to Eye they Trade Liny crystals potentially Worth millions of dollars. Ii is a business based in Trust. Deals Are sealed and stones change hands on just a handshake and the words Maze and Vucha yiddish Lor tuck and  a Date of payment is agreed upon a memo is  one Side renege the dispute goes to the club s arbitration. Though she started out in sales and earned Money doing tree Lance deals during and after her student Days Mangiameli apparently decided she did not belong in this part of the Industry. When she disappeared she had worked several times on a free Lance basis verifying gems at Christie a . She was also interviewing Lor a  Job in Diamond merchandising at Tiffany & co. The women who do make their living dealing in the Diamond District know Wall the rules of this exotic world where some very orthodox men will put a Stone on in counter of them to pick up. Rather than risk touching a woman to whom they Aren t married. They Are also Well acquainted with its dangers Barbara Lauler Shapiro 35, runs the retail and wholesale jewelry Exchange started by her father. Two years ago her husband Henry 35, left the store to meet someone who owed him Money. He was carrying Aboul $6,000 Worth of jewelry his wife said. Henry Shapiro s body was found in february 1987, in Queens swamp. He had been shot four limes in the head and Chest. For most of Barbara Mangiameli s Short Lime in in business one was not confronted by the dangers. While in school she began to do Iree Lance sales first of finished jewelry later of actual gems As time went on Fischler said she began to ask Lor larger and More important stones for clients. She continued to free tence alter graduating in december and on feb. 1, Richter says Mangi Roeli called and said she had a prospective buyer for investment Quality diamonds. At about 5 30 . On feb. 3, Fischler says he put Mangiameli in a taxi. She was to deliver an engagement ring to a customer at 6 . And then meet a diploma from a third world nation who was supposedly interested in the diamonds. The Mealing had been arranged through two italia Brothers who were friends of Mangiameli s. A Scaler says she didst seem oven excited he had Given her stones Worth As much As $350,000 before. When he d heard nothing by Midnight Fischler said he called Mangiameli s apartment and she told him the meeting had been cancelled at the last minute. Fischler and Mangiameli agreed to meet at noon the next Day. When she would return the diamonds and hand Over 53,500 from the Sale of the engagement ring. She called an associate of the broker s around 1130 . And said she was on her Way. She was last reported seen shortly after noon in the Vestibule of her upper East Side building. No one has been charged in uan Giameid s death or the theft 01 the diamonds. But authorities say the Brothers Fausto and Raoul Rivalta were arrested on april 11 and charged with interstate transportation of stolen property one of the stones and Are suspects in Mangish neg disappearance. When Mangiameli s body was found june 9. The medical examiner s office said she had not Bee dead for very Long certainly. Not  but that estimate later was rescinded because of the water temperature and other variables according to office spokeswoman Etlen , Borakove says we re still not prepared to give any into mation out on the timing of the  the rival Las have been held without bail since their arrest and lace trial this week in Manhattan Federal court. The Federal Compten against the pair alleges that two weeks after Mangiameli disappeared Fausto Rivalta sold a Pear shaped Diamond Al a Florida pawnshop Lor $11,000. An appraiser identified ii As one of the six missing gems. Both brother gave separate videotape statements to the Manhattan Dis Ricl attorney s of face in March saying they did not buy diamonds shown to them on feb. 2 by Mangiameli. Debra Shapiro says thai Fasulo who lived in tha same apartment building As Mangiameli described himself As an Interior designer. Assistant . Attorney j. Gilmore Childers says that Al the Lime of his , 33, was on probation on a burglary charge in new York and had been arrested several times in Italy mostly for theft related crimes. Shapiro and Fischler say they never Mel Raou Rivalta whom Mangiameli described to Fischler As a vice president of the brokerage Bear Stearns & co. Inc. In an affidavit daled april 28. Raoul. 48, described himself a on leave of absence from the firm. But the company s personnel director Steve la Coll. Said Raoul started As a Security guard in april 1984 and worked is Way up to the Post of clerk in the International operations department. He said he was tiled feb. 26 for failing to return trom vacation. Some people in the Diamond District say Mangiameli was wrong to carry diamonds to meet someone Shedin t know. Vel Many dealers and brokers carry jewels around and danger is of Fety regarded As inevitable in a business that deals daily in some of the world 3 most precious objects. Monday september 2b. 1988 the stars and stripes Page 13