She’s the Grinch of Christmas mail.
A Lengthy Island employee snatched over 20 present playing cards from her Lengthy Island publish workplace that had been meant to be shipped out over the vacation season — and used them to deal with herself, authorities alleged Friday.
Jovanni Jamison-Lewis, 35, was caught on-camera systematically riffling via packages dropped off on the Oakdale publish workplace to be mailed, in accordance with the Suffolk County District Lawyer’s Workplace.
She allegedly stole any envelope that contained present playing cards — and was found utilizing a few of them at numerous shops later, prosecutors mentioned.
Authorities had been tipped off to the alleged scheme in September after the postal employee used a present card that had been stolen, prompting the two-month probe probe.
Investigators with the Suffolk police and the postal service’s Workplace of the Inspector Normal alleged they discovered Jamison-Lewis overtly opening envelopes, peering inside for greeting playing cards, after which pocketing people who contained one thing helpful and resealing others.
Undercover cops examined Jamison-Lewis in late November by handing her an envelope with a TJ Maxx present card inside.
Surveillance cameras behind the counter caught her opening the envelope after the officer — who she believed was a buyer — had left, after which grabbing the cardboard from inside, the DA’s workplace mentioned.
The subsequent day, Jamison-Lewis was allegedly caught on digital camera once more, utilizing the present card at a TJ Maxx in Port Jefferson Station in three separate transactions, authorities mentioned.
Jamison-Lewis was arrested Nov. 24 as she was leaving work, prosecutors mentioned.
On the time of her arrest, she was discovered with two items of stolen mail hidden in her pants and 4 extra stolen present playing cards in her pocketbook, in accordance with authorities.
Police additionally discovered 19 extra stolen present playing cards in her automotive and one other in her residence.
Jamison-Lewis was charged with grand larceny, possession of stolen property, official misconduct and larceny, in accordance with prosecutors.
The DA’s workplace couldn’t say how a lot the stolen playing cards had been price total.
Jamison-Lewis was arraigned Friday and launched, as the costs will not be bail-eligible underneath state legislation.
Authorities mentioned the investigation was ongoing and that extra prices had been anticipated, nevertheless, Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney mentioned he didn’t count on the feds to additionally open a separate case towards the accused thieving Grinch.
Jamison-Lewis, a gross sales, service and distribution agent, started working on the Oakdale Publish Workplace in November 2024 and resigned Dec. 1, officers mentioned.
She faces as much as 4 years in jail if convicted, prosecutors mentioned.
“The overwhelming majority of our public servants are hardworking and devoted. There are, nevertheless, only a few unhealthy actors,” Tierney mentioned.
“It’s a disgrace as a result of it’s these few unhealthy actors that impugn the status and integrity of all our different hard-working and devoted public servants.”
