March 24, 1999

FORMER SEARS EMPLOYEE CHARGED IN THEFT OF OVER $47,000 FROM THE COMPANY

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today the arrest of a former Sears employee on charges of stealing over $47,000 from the department store chain in less than a month's time.

District Attorney Brown identified the defendant as Kiomara Blanco, 19, of 91-43 118th Street, Richmond Hill, Queens. She is charged with grand larceny in the third degree and falsifying business records in the first degree. She faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the charges.

According to the District Attorney, the defendant worked in the export department at a Sears branch located at 96-05 Queens Boulevard where she been employed since June, 1998. It is alleged that during a one month period from December 28, 1998 until January 24, 1999, the defendant, who was authorized to use Sears cash registers, pretended to sell 200-300 gift certificate cards to non-existent customers, activated the cards through the store's cash registers and gave the cards to various friends and acquaintances who then used the cards. The gift certificate cards entitled the recipient to buy up to $500 worth of merchandise at any Sears location. In this manner the defendant allegedly stole $47,345.

The defendant was arrested yesterday by Det. Michael Giacobello of the Queens District Attorney's Office Squad which is under the command of Captain Harold J. Knorr. District Attorney Brown extended his thanks to Sears for their cooperation and assistance in the investigation.

Assistant District Attorney Linda LaGreca of the Economic Crimes Bureau, which is under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michael J. Mansfield and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Robert D. Alexander, is in charge of the case.

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