By Sarina Trangle
A Rego Park Toys R Us cashier has been arrested and charged with using fake coupons to send herself and relatives more than $56,000 in toys, clothes and electronics during the past six months, the Queens DA said.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Shontia Jones, 24, was arraigned before Queens Criminal Court Judge Deborah Stevens Modica last week.
Jones, a Far Rockaway resident, allegedly created about twice a week coupons that are designed to be used like cash on the Toys R Us website. The coupons are meant to be given to customers who are dissatisfied with a purchase. But prosecutors contend Jones used them to send about $45,000 in purchases to her Far Rockaway home and another $10,000 in goods to her sister’s home in the same neighborhood between June and December 2014.
“The defendant is accused of going on a virtual shopping spree in which she is alleged to have accessed the store’s marketing system to create coupons and then order an array of merchandise — everything from baby formula to toys and games to clothing and video systems,” Brown said in a statement. “The defendant is now facing significant jail time for her alleged actions.”
Jones’ attorney was not immediately identified.
She has been charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and falsifying business records charges, Brown said.
If convicted, Jones faces up to 15 years behind bars, according to prosecutors.
Brown said Toys R Us noticed an abnormal number of coupons at its Rego Center Mall location, where Jones worked as a cashier, and conducted an internal investigation before getting authorities involved.
Prosecutors said Jones, who has a toddler, allegedly told investigators she did not sell any of the items stolen, including baby formula, children’s clothes, diapers, Disney toys, video games, board games and beverages, but gave some away to relatives and stored the rest in her home.
Jones was next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 29.
