A past top executive at Tiffany and Co. was sentenced to one year in prison and then one year of supervised release Monday after acknowledging she took over $2 million in Jewelry out of the store Reuters reported. Prosecutors had fought for previous vice president of product development at Tiffany and Co. Lederhaas-Okun to serve for no more than 46 months.
Ingrid Lederhaas-Okun, was also told by United States District Judge Paul Gardephe in Manhattan, N.Y., to give up over $2.11 million to the government, and give $2.24 million in restitution Reuters reported.
"I can't express my remorse enough," Lederhass-Okun told the judge Reuters reported.
Lederhaas-Okun pleaded guilty July 26 to one count of transporting stolen property in interstate commerce, less than a month after being arrested Reuters reported.
"For reasons that can only be explained by a psychiatric illness, Ingrid took huge risks with her life and her freedom each time she stole," Sabrina Shroff, Lederhaas-Okun's lawyer told Reuters. "The risk did not pay off." Lederhaas-Okun was going through issuses, and wanted to have something to help with the feelings of various aspects of her life that were struggling including her marriage, and employment.
Lederhaas-Okun reportedly took a pendant from the store in 2005 in one of several instances she did throughout her employment with the company, which she began in 1991 Reuters reported.
Lederhaas-Okun also took other jewelry, and then sold it, reportedly keeping the profits according to information from prosecutors Reuters reported. The items included bracelets, earrings, and diamond, platinum, and gold pendants or jewelry that goes around someone's neck.
Her job reportedly allowed her to continue selling items since she could mark the products as regular in-store products people bought Reuters reported.
The company then started to wonder after Lederhaas-Okun was let go in a big round of cuts in February Reuters reported.
She made $360,000 each year from 2010 to 2012 according to information from Judge Gardephe Reuters reported.
Ledarhaas-Okun, and her husband each provided information about their income for the two years, which ranged from $700,000 to 900,000 Reuters reported. Lederhaas-Okun has since gone ahead with a divorce
Their home was priced at $4.4 million, and has been placed on the market to fulfill court forfeiture requirements Reuters reported.
