Lasell University Student Allegedly Stole Over $500,000 From Employer To Fund Lavish Lifestyle

Ariel Foster

Lasell University Student Allegedly Stole Over $500,000 From Employer To Fund Lavish Lifestyle

A college student from Lasell University went overboard in an attempt to keep up with the Joneses.

The community of Lasell University – a private university in Auburndale, Massachusetts – might be shocked by the reason the school is making headlines. According to reports, On Wednesday (Mar. 8) authorities arrested Ariel Foster – a 19-year-old Lasell University student-athlete – for allegedly scamming 6-figures from the Burlington Mall jewelry store she worked at part-time.

Ariel Foster’s mugshot, Burlington Police Department

Reportedly, Ariel Foster would increase the price of merchandise purchased at the jewelry store – Lovisa – then refund the item to her own credit card, pocketing the difference. Police said in a news release that across eight fraudulent transactions allegedly made by Foster, Lovisa lost a total of $547,187.

And it seems that the college student was using the stolen funds to live a very lavish lifestyle. Her accounts showed that between Feb. 2 and Feb. 22, she spent $35,000 on a Tesla, $6,000 on Delta Airlines flights, over $20,000 on a hotel in Maui, and nearly $5,000 on Louis Vuitton merchandise, according to reports.

Reports claim that Foster was caught after she attempted to complete a purchase of $1 million from Lovisa. She allegedly never finished or cleared out the transaction. However, a co-worker saw the questionable amount and notified the police.

Burlington Police Chief Tom Browne told reporters on Thursday (Mar. 9)

“Greed took over. I don’t know how else I would classify it,”

He continued,

“…When I first saw the amount I thought it was a mistake.”

Police searched Foster’s Boston home and her dorm room at Lasell before taking her into custody without incident. She was later released on bail and has been charged with larceny over $1,200. She appeared before the judge today (Mar. 10) for her arraignment and was ordered to stay away from the store, mall, and victims. Foster is due back in court in May. If convicted, she’s reportedly facing 5 years in prison.

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