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Monday, May 19, 2025

Ex-employee busted for using stolen gift cards at J.C. Penney

Jessica Ellison was fired from her job, but she wasn’t done using the company’s money to pay her bills.

Starting in December, Ellison, 24, continually broke into her former manager’s office at the District on 62nd apartment complex, 1000 SW 62nd Blvd., according to a Gainesville Police report.

Over the course of two months, Ellison stole 18 credit and gift cards from the manager’s closet.   The total value of the cards amounted to $2,550.

Ellison used the cards to go on a shopping spree, spending all the money at various retail stores around Gainesville. She was caught with the stolen cards on a surveillance camera at J.C. Penney.

Bank statements and a witness’s testimony confirmed her purchases, and Ellison was arrested at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday.

She is charged with burglary, grand theft, scheming to defraud, fraudulent use of credit cards and possession of stolen credit cards.

Ellison told police she was sorry for what she’d done and was willing to pay for the purchases she had made.

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