Alleged Jewel Thief Appears in Court After Transitioning

Alex Borders, 46, an individual accused of orchestrating a significant jewel theft and fraud scheme, appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court for the first time since publicly identifying as a transgender woman. Borders faces charges including grand larceny, scheme to defraud, and issuing bad checks, stemming from an alleged operation that ran from August 2023 to May 2024.

Borders allegedly operated under the alias Alex Hollinger, establishing a fake company that was used to defraud individuals and advertisers. The scheme involved soliciting jewelry from victims by promising cash, then issuing bounced checks. Additionally, Borders allegedly used fraudulent checks to purchase advertising space in prominent publications like The New Yorker and GQ, promoting the scam.

According to the district attorney's office, the operation targeted individuals with valuable jewelry, with victims reporting significant financial losses and, in some cases, homelessness. The scheme also extended to an employee hired by the fake company, who prosecutors say was never paid.

Borders was arrested on November 6, 2024. Weeks after her arrest, her defense attorney informed the court that Borders had begun identifying as a woman. She was initially held at the Rose M. Singer Center, a women-only facility on Rikers Island. In a subsequent court appearance, Borders appeared with her lawyer, dressed in makeup and casual attire. Her lawyer conferred with the state prosecutor while Borders remained seated. The proceedings, a control hearing before Judge Michelle Rodney, concluded with the case being adjourned until November 6.

Following the hearing, Borders was able to leave the courthouse as a free woman, having previously been granted bail. She was seen exiting with her lawyer and, at one point, appeared to gesture with her finger towards a photographer in the hallway before departing into the city.

Borders has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. The case is ongoing.