Yonelunas Joins Honora
Tom Yonelunas, who resigned last year as chief executive officer of the Gemological Institute of America’s Gem Laboratory, is joining pearl company Honora as chief operating officer.
“I’ve known Tom for almost 30 years, and he’s a systems and operational genius,” said Joel Schechter, company CEO. “He’s a perfect fit for us, and he’s one of the finest men in the industry as far as personality, integrity, character.”
Yonelunas was among the first GIA lab employees and helped develop it. Though not implicated in any wrongdoing, he resigned last year after four employees were fired for violating the lab’s code of ethics.

Mississippi Jewelry Store Owner Indicted
A Clinton, Miss., jewelry store owner and his wife have been indicted on felony state tax evasion charges, according to the Clarion-Ledger, Jon D. Lenoir, owner of Lenoir Jewellers of Clinton, was indicted on four counts of Mississippi sales tax evasion for the years 2000 through 2003. Lenoir and his wife, Deborah, were also indicted on four counts of Mississippi income tax evasion, the newspaper reports. Each is free on $2,500 bond.
The indictment charges Lenoir with concealing sales from Lenoir Jewellers by depositing the money into a personal checking account and converting the sales-tax trust-fund money to his personal use, resulting in an underpayment of $98,331 in sales tax for Jan. 1, 2000, through Dec. 31, 2003, the newspaper reports. The count for tax year 2000 charges the Lenoirs with tax evasion by reporting false net operating loss from business activities of Lenoir Jewellers.

Cox Named EVP at Stuller, Cornell Goes to Super Bell
Robert Cox has been named executive vice president of sales at Stuller, Lafayette, La., replacing George “Tip” Cornell. Cox has served as Stuller’s business vice president of mountings since January 2004.
Cornell has been named chief operating officer of Super Bell Jewelry. He is expected to help the company expand its product lines and add new ventures.