The former manager of a Huntington Village jewelry store pleaded guilty for stealing more than $137,000 worth of jewelry from her customers.
From September 27, 2019 to June 26, 2022, Laura Bee, who was the manager of Ever Love Jewelry, agreed to take possession of various jewelry items, valued at approximately $31,000 for the purpose of selling on behalf of her friends. Bee kept these items, despite numerous demands for the proceeds of the sale or the return of the items.
Between October 7, 2020 and August 19, 2022, Bee sold various diamond engagement rings to customers who thought they were buying rings with natural diamonds. When customers later had their rings appraised, they discovered that the stones were lab-grown diamonds, worth significantly less than the natural diamonds they paid for. Using this scheme, Bee stole approximately $47,000 from unsuspecting couples.
On December 10, 2021, Bee agreed to repair a broken diamond engagement ring for a friend. She was entrusted with the engagement ring valued at approximately $15,000. When Bee returned the ring to her friend, the natural diamond had been replaced with a lab-grown diamond, worth approximately $2,000.
In addition, from June 22, 2022 to December 7, 2022, Bee stole almost $50,000 from other jewelers who sold her jewelry. Throughout this time, she issued six bad checks from the Ever Love Jewelry bank account, knowing the funds in the account would not cover the checks.
On January 16, 2024, Bee, 59, of Lake Grove, pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Judge Karen Kerr, to one count of third-degree grand larceny, a Class D felony. As part of the plea agreement, Bee is expected to make full restitution. She is due back in court on March 25, 2024.
“Over almost three years, this defendant used her position as the manager of a jewelry store to scam her friends and unsuspecting customers,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “This defendant took advantage of her position for personal gain, and my office will continue to prosecute professionals who steal from their customers.”