East Garden City, NY - December 27th, 2013 - The Crimes Against Property Squad report the arrest of a Brooklyn man for Grand Larceny that occurred on Thursday December 26, 2013 at 8:24 p.m. in East Garden City.

According to detectives, the defendant Eric L. Willis, 50, of 1412 New York Avenue engaged in a scheme to defraud J.C. Penny Stores in the New York metro area between February 2009 and December 2013. On numerous occasions Willis switched price tags of items and then purchased the item at the lower price. He then returned the item to a different store without a receipt and received a gift card for original higher amount of the item. The defendant would then purchase items with the gift card and add additional cash purchases to the transactions, resulting in a receipt that would reflect a cash transaction. All items were then returned for a full cash refund.  On Thursday December 26, 2013 Willis was observed by store security in JC Penny at 630 Old Country Road. Nassau County Police responded and placed Willis under arrest without incident.

The defendant is charged with Grand Larceny 3rd degree and Scheme to Defraud 1st degree. He will be arraigned on Friday, December 27, 2013 at First District Court in Hempstead.