Ex-Jeweler Admits To Stealing $137K From Friends, Customers: Suffolk DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — The former manager of Ever Love Jewelry in Huntington Village admitted to stealing more than $137K worth of jewelry from her customers, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Wednesday.

Laura Bee, 59, of Lake Grove, pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny.

"Over almost three years, this defendant used her position as the manager of a jewelry store to scam her friends and unsuspecting customers," Tierney said in a news release. "This defendant took advantage of her position for personal gain, and my office will continue to prosecute professionals who steal from their customers."

From Sept. 27, 2019, to June 26, 2022, Bee agreed to take possession of various jewelry items, valued at approximately $31K, for the purpose of selling on behalf of her friends, according to Bee's guilty plea. Bee kept these items despite numerous demands for the proceeds of the sale or the return of the items, investigators said.

Between Oct. 7, 2020, and Aug. 19, 2022, Bee sold various diamond engagement rings to customers who thought they were buying rings with natural diamonds, prosecutors said.

Customers who had their rings appraised discovered that the stones were lab-grown diamonds, worth significantly less than the natural diamonds they paid for, officials said. Bee stole around $47K from unsuspecting couples, authorities said.

On Dec. 10, 2021, Bee agreed to repair a broken diamond engagement ring for a friend, the DA said. She was entrusted with the $15K engagement ring, Tierney said. When Bee returned the ring to her friend, the natural diamond had been replaced with a lab grown diamond, worth roughly $2K, officials said.

From June 22, 2022, to Dec. 7, 2022, Bee stole almost $50K from other jewelers who sold her jewelry, prosecutors said. Throughout this time, Bee issued six bad checks from the Ever Love Jewelry bank account, knowing the funds in the account would not cover the checks, investigators said.

Bee pleaded guilty on Tuesday. As part of the plea agreement, Bee is expected to make full restitution. She is due back in court on March 25 and is being represented by Matthew Tuohy.