Receiving a full scholarship to university but getting caught stealing multiple luxury items at the workplace – this was the recent situation for a senior student at Boston College who has been indicted for such behavior.
According to Boston police, 22-year-old Justin Smith is accused of engaging in theft at the “Saks Fifth Avenue” store where he worked, making off with dozens of handbags and wallets worth nearly $50,000. Smith has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office alleges that Smith, while working at a store in the Prudential Center in Boston, stole a total of 24 handbags and 5 wallets over the course of two days.
Prosecutors state that surveillance footage from the store shows Smith taking the keys to the storeroom and shortly after, store security following him to a car parked nearby.
A police announcement also mentioned that on the evening of May 13, authorities received a report from store security personnel who claimed to have witnessed Smith’s theft. Soon after, Smith was arrested by the police.
Smith’s defense attorney has argued that the defendant is an excellent student who has previously been featured in the media for his involvement in public activities and has had no prior criminal record. Smith had actively supported gun control legislation in Alabama and received a full scholarship to Boston College for his efforts.
Smith, set to graduate this year, has been granted bail. The judge has allowed him to return to his home in Alabama but has mandated his presence in Boston for a pretrial hearing on July 26.