BANGOR (AP) – Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, coins and other valuables are being sold in an online auction after being seized from a jewelry store owner who was convicted of drug dealing.

The auction began a week ago and continues through Sunday on the Web site of Lone Star Auctioneers.

The sale is part of a plea agreement in which Robert Brewer III forfeited the property from his Bangor jewelry store, the Diamond Connection.

Rings, pendants, watches, earrings, coins and similar items are grouped into 83 lots for the auction. A Justice Department appraiser valued the property at $743,697 in July 2003.

The U.S. Marshals Service has contracted with Lone Star Auctioneers of Fort Worth, Texas, to auction the property.

At midday on Thursday, the highest bid was $4,750 for a lot of 45 assorted gold chains. A lot of 17 gold coins had been bid up to $3,300, and a lot of 97 assorted rings and precious stones had a high bid of $3,325.

To participate, bidders must submit registration information along with a $1,000 deposit and a form containing an original signature to Lone Star.

It takes at least 24 hours or one business day to activate an account to bid on items. Buyers also may be subject to background checks.

Brewer was arrested with several others in April 2003 for his involvement in a long-running interstate drug business that ran drugs between Rhode Island and Maine. He pleaded guilty to selling oxycodone out of his store and is scheduled to be released from federal prison in October.

Proceeds from the sale are used to fund law enforcement programs.