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Apr-30-2009500 Pounds of Gold Put in Purse, Officials Say(topic overview)
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Teresa Tambunting, 50, of Scarsdale, was freed Tuesday on $100,000 cash bail, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. She has been charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. Prosecutors say she could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Tambunting is accused of "establishing a virtual mining operation" at Jacmel Jewelry in Long Island City, Queens by smuggling out pieces of raw gold and jewelry in the lining of her purse, Brown said. [1] A long-time employee of a major Queens jewelry manufacturer walked off with a staggering $12 million worth of gold over the course of six years, prosecutors said. Teresa Tambunting, 50, of Scarsdale, had been secreting the gold hoard out of the Long Island City vault piece by piece by stashing small items in the lining of her pocketbook, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. "The defendant is accused of establishing a virtual mining operation in Long Island City which siphoned off millions of dollars' worth of the precious metal," he said. Tambunting had worked for Jacmel Jewelry for 28 years and had been made a vault manager in 1991, making her responsible for monitoring the amount of gold in the company's safe.[2] The investigation is ongoing, prosecutors said. Tambunting had worked for Jacmel for 27 years and worked her way up to a salary of $165,000 a year, law enforcement sources said. She became a vault manager in 1991, prosecutors said. "With gold trading at nearly $900 an ounce, the defendant is accused of establishing a virtual mining operation in Long Island City which siphoned off millions of dollars' worth of the precious metal from her employer," District Attorney Richard Brown said. The international jewelry company - founded in 1977 and claiming to be one of the largest manufacturers in the country - employs 250 staffers in their 100,000 square-foot headquarters, its Web site says.[3]
Tambunting, who was released on $100,000 bail and ordered to return to court on May 19, faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. '''With gold trading at nearly $900 an ounce, the defendant is accused of establishing a virtual mining operation in Long Island City which siphoned off millions of dollars''' worth of the precious metal from her employer''', Queens district attorney Richard A. Brown said. '' '''It is alleged that this once trusted employee carried out her long term scheme by concealing jewelry and raw gold in the lining of her pocketbook'''.[4]
It was there, with easy access to the vault, that police said 50-year-old Teresa Tambunting stole from her employer -- year after year, piece by piece. "Given that she worked there 28 years this had been going on a long time," Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Investigators said she hid gold pieces in the lining of her purse and walked through security and out the door.[5]
An audit conducted in January revealed the missing bounty. She allegedly returned 29.9kg of gold, but a search of her house turned up a further 203kg. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Ms Tambunting had been carrying out a "virtual mining operation" by stashing small pieces of gold in the lining of her handbag.[6]
In 1991, Tambunting was given the position of vault manager. Among her responsibilities was to monitor the vault in which fine gold, finished products and raw materials were stored. It is alleged that a physical inventory conducted at Jacmel Jewelry in January 2009 revealed that as much as $12 million worth of merchandise was unaccounted for, and that after an investigation was initiated, Tambunting arrived at Jacmel'''s offices wheeling a suitcase containing 30 kilos (66 pounds) of fine gold with an estimated value of $868,000. In statements allegedly made to detectives assigned to the District Attorney'''s Detective Bureau, Tambunting said that she had taken fine gold over several months during the previous year by concealing it in the lining of her pocketbook, into which she had cut a slit.[4]
The Associated Press 9:48 PM EDT, April 29, 2009 A vault manager is accused of stealing $12 million in gold and jewelry over six years from one of the nation's largest jewelry manufacturers in New York City.[1] NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors say a suburban New York woman stole $12 million in gold over six years from the jewelry manufacturer where she worked.[7]
The New York Post reports Teresa Tambunting of Scarsdale, New York, had worked for Jacmel Jewelry for 28 years. She had been responsible for monitoring the gold in the co.[6] Teresa Tambunting has been charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. Prosecutors say she took gold from Jacmel Jewelry in Queens and hid it in the lining of her pocketbook.[7] Teresa Tambunting, 50, of 30 Ogden Road in Scarsdale, '' was arraigned Tuesday afternoon before Queens Criminal Court Judge Barry Kron on charges of first-degree grand larceny and first-degree criminal possession of stolen property.[4]
After an investigation was initiated, Tambunting was found wheeling a suitcase into the company's headquarters containing 66 pounds of gold. A further search of her house revealed another 447.8 pounds of gold. She was charged with first-degree grand larceny and first-degree criminal possession of stolen property and was released Tuesday on $100,000 bail. She faces up to 25 years in jail if convicted.[2]
Looking at the security area for Jacmel Jewelry, it is easy to see how tight the area is. Police said to pull off a multi-million dollar heist the thief would need to be on the inside, trusted, with a clever way of getting the loot out of this building. "She retuned some $800,000 worth of gold directly to the company," Brown said. Tambunting did not return to her home Wednesday after she was released on $100,000 bail. "They're different from the rest of the neighborhood. You don't see them around. They stick to themselves," neighbor Marsha Kalisch said.[5] Tambunting was released Tuesday on $100,000 bail. Her attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday. Prosecutors are investigating what she planned to do with the jewelry.[7]
Tambunting faces up to 25 years in prison, if convicted. She was released on $100,000 bail Wednesday, a Department of Corrections spokesman said. Neighbors said they never suspected the Tambunting's pretty 2-story stucco and stone home was hiding millions in illicit treasure.[3]
A WOMAN is accused of stealing $US12 million ($16.6 million) over six years from her employer. She had been responsible for monitoring the gold in the company's safe for the last 18 years.[6] The company discovered in January that nearly $12 million in merchandise was missing. Prosecutors say the thefts occurred from 2004 until Tuesday and that a search turned up 450 pounds of gold at her home in Scarsdale, N.Y.[7] After the investigation began, prosecutors say Tambunting arrived at Jacmel's offices wheeling a suitcase containing 66 pounds of fine gold with an estimated value of $868,000.[1]
A search of Tambunting's home in February uncovered another 450 pounds of stashed loot, prosecutors said. Tambunting was fired after she admitted stealing, Rahmey said. Her company voicemail was still accepting messages Wednesday morning. Law enforcement sources are at a loss to explain how her husband, Edgardo Tambunting, who sources said was hired at Cantor Fitzgerald after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, didn't know about the plot.[3]
Investigators conducted a search warrant in February and recovered more than 447 pounds of gold and jewelry from Tambunting's home.[1] Tambunting had worked at the company for 28 years. She was responsible for monitoring the fine gold, finished jewelry and raw materials stored in the firm's vault, according to Brown.[1] QUEENSA longtime employee of one of the country'''s largest manufacturers and distributors of popular price jewelry has been charged with stealing as much as $12 million in gold merchandise and material over a nearly six-year period, carrying the gold out in her purse.[4] An inventory conducted in January revealed that $12 million worth of gold was missing.[2] An investigation began in January after an inventory of the vault revealed that $12 million in materials and merchandise were missing.[1]
The price of gold on the New York Mercantile Exchange closed Wednesday at $899.80 an ounce. [1] The international company was founded in 1977, and Jacmel Jewelry's Web site says it is one of the country's largest jewelry manufacturers and distributors. The firm employs 250 workers in its New York City headquarters.[1] NEW YORK (AP) -- Supermodel-turned-TV host Tyra Banks, facing the man accused of stalking her, testified Wednesday that she feared for her safety when she learned he had entered the New York City building where she tapes her show.[8] NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -- A fugitive principal from New York who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for molesting a girl has been arrested in Connecticut, authorities said Wednesday.[8] ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Some Legislators and good-government groups warn projects to be funded by New York's $24.6 billion share of federal stimulus funds are being chosen in secret without enough accounting of the spending.[8]
SOURCES
1. Manager accused of stealing $12 million in gold -- amNY.com
2. New York Post
3. Jewelry store employee, Teresa Tambunting, arrested for stealing gold in purse lining over six years
4. North Country Gazette » Queens Employee Charged In $12M Gold Heist
5. Jewelry Store Employee Accused In Epic Heist - wcbstv.com
6. Woman &squo;stole $16.6 million in gold from employer | Herald Sun
7. The Associated Press: Jeweler employee accused of stealing $12M in gold
8. WPIX News
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