Mallory Montilla, shown above with StyleCaster's Ari Goldberg, has been charged with jewelry theft. Photo: PatrickMcMullan.com
What is it with PR gals and breaking the law?
First, there was a road-raging Lizzie Grubman. Then, Dolce & Gabbana's Ali Wise got hit with computer trespass and eavesdropping charges.
Now, a young fashion PR account executive, accused of stealing $97,000 worth of jewelry, is boasting some new bling: handcuffs, reports the New York Post.
Mallory Montilla, the 24-year-old jewelry account executive at Manhattan-based Whisper Public Relations, was arrested on Friday and charged with stealing luxury baubles including two pieces from jewelry designer client, Leslie Greene, whose pieces had been loaned out for photo shoots. She was later released on bail.
Montilla, who had worked at Whisper for about two years and enjoyed a whirlwind social life that found her in the company of celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, had been entrusted to safely ferry the jewelry back and forth from photo shoots, says the paper.
Sources told the Post that Montilla's sticky fingers caught up with her when an inventory of the firm's safe revealed that $97,000 worth of jewelry last seen in her care was missing.Montilla, who had been fired by Whisper in mid-July, for reasons unrelated to the missing items, promised to return the jewelry but failed to do so, adds the source.
"We felt that she wasn't performing up to our standards around July 18," Whisper co-owner Karly Klein told the paper. "After the termination, we noticed some inconsistencies in her reports, and we went straight to the police."
When contacted for comment, Whisper PR Partner Karly Klein told StyleList the following: "Theft is an egregious act and the ultimate breach of trust. We are working with the authorities to retrieve all missing items that have been entrusted to us by our clients, and we are pursuing the appropriate course of action."
Montilla is due back in court this week. Meanwhile, we have a sneaking suspicion that somewhere Lindsay Lohan is feeling a little vindicated.
Jewelry heists seem to be the trend du jour right now. Click here to read more about other bling burglaries.