Police: Woman stole $190,000 from Mason employer

LEBANON – A Cincinnati woman faces felony charges after police say she stole nearly $190,000 from her Mason employer and used the funds to purchase designer jewelry, weight loss drugs and new windows for her home, among other items.

A Warren County grand jury Friday indicted Kennyetta Louis, 33, on four felony charges of theft and aggravated theft, identity fraud and misuse of a credit card. The indictments were announced Monday afternoon.

Louis is accused of making $189,652 in unauthorized purchases on a corporate credit card from Luxottica between July 22 and Nov. 15. The Forest Park woman worked there as a temporary employee managing a corporate credit and gift card division, according to a police report.

Luxottica, the world's largest eyewear maker, is the parent company of LensCrafters, whose retail division is headquartered in Mason.

Company officials told police that on July 22, Louis had been instructed by a supervisor to cancel an American Express credit card used by an employee who had recently died.

According to police, Louis admitted to instead having the card re-issued and mailed to her home where she used it to purchase purses, clothes, shoes, jewelry, airline tickets, hotel rooms, meals, concert tickets, dental braces for her daughter, kitchen appliances and windows for her home.

Other items seized in search warrants executed by police include several computers and tablets, a 55-inch television, an iPhone and other cell phones, drugs intended for weight loss, a fur coat, designer watches, jewelry from Tiffany & Co. and bedroom furniture.

Police say Louis admitted to the thefts and said she felt Luxottica "owed it to her" because the company didn't provide her with paid vacation time, insurance or a competitive salary.

Louis was charged in November through Mason Municipal Court, which bound the case over in December to the grand jury in Lebanon. She is free on her own recognizance, pending arraignment.