COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — An employee at a red-light-camera company with cameras outside Chicago racked up $750 in spa and T-Mobile charges using credit card information from a man who was ticketed by her employer, prosecutors alleged Tuesday.
Essence Jefferson, 21, was working for Safe Speed when the victim called to pay his red-light-camera ticket by phone earlier this year, Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said during a bond hearing Tuesday.
Safe Speed is licensed in Chicago and has a Downtown office, but doesn't operate cameras in the city (that contract belongs to Xerox). Safe Speed didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
After the victim gave Jefferson his credit card number by phone, she used it to treat herself and a friend to $510 worth of Streeterville spa services, Scaduto said.
Jefferson is also accused of spending $253.70 at T-Mobile.
She was arrested in the South Loop on Monday night and admitted to using the man's card number, according to prosecutors and police.
Jefferson, of the 400 block of East Bowen Avenue, was charged with identity theft and using someone else's account number without permission.
Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas on Tuesday ordered Jefferson held in lieu of $5,000 bail.
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