A Long Island correction officer used a former inmate as her personal shopper – sending him out to steal items from Home Depot and other stores, which he’d sell to her at a big discount, authorities charged.
Officials said Ella Jackson, 43, of Westbury, accompanied the ex-con – who’d served time at the Nassau Correctional Center – to the stores, pointed out to him what she liked, and then waited outside while he stole the merchandise.
She then purchased the items from him – at a cut-rate price no store could hope to match, authorities said.
What Jackson didn’t know was that her alleged accomplice was actually part of a DA sting operation.
Officials said the ex-inmate didn’t actually steal the items, but that investigators paid for them.
Jackson, busted Tuesday, was arraigned yesterday in district court in Hempstead on charges of attempted criminal possession of stolen property, conspiracy and attempted petit larceny.
A judge ordered her released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court Sept. 20.