A juror passing judgment on a credit card thief allegedly swiped plastic from the man sitting near her—who was also a juror in the case! The News reports that 20-year-old Jennifer Mercado returned from lunch carrying several shopping bags full of new shoes. She now claims that John Postrk gave her permission to use his American Express card because "He came on to me... It's a he-said, she-said situation. In court, they will find out he's lying." Postrk's lawyers say the credit cards, along with his metrocard, disappeared from his coat pocket on March 8, the first day of the trial. "You've got to be really stupid to do that in front of a judge, court officers, law enforcement and all the cameras in this building," said one courthouse employee, who'd heard about the case.
Mercado and Postrk were both jurors in the trial of Warren Stewart, accused of larceny and possession of a stolen credit card. After three days Postrk reported the theft of his valuables, telling the judge the thief was "the person that came back with the baggage." During a recess an assistant DA investigated the claim, speaking with some of the merchants who'd supposedly sold to Mercado. "She was talking nice to me, asking for a discount," confirmed Jeans Plus manager Jason Ayoub.
Two days later Mercado was arrested and charged with grand larceny, stolen property, identity theft and unlawful use of a credit card. Her alleged illegal actions got her removed from Stewart's case, and could put her in jail for as long as four years.
