BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Neiman Marcus employee was arrested on October 22nd after her bosses accused her of stealing nearly $2,000 worth of merchandise from the luxury store over several months. Juliana Ribeiro Leite De Villiers, 40, of Parkland, now faces felony charges for grand theft and organized fraud.
According to a police report obtained by BocaNewsNow.com, De Villiers’ alleged scheme unraveled after other employees and managers at the Town Center mall store grew suspicious of her behavior. Loss Prevention began conducting “dedicated surveillance” on De Villiers and reported observing her ringing up her own alterations, a violation of store policy. On October 20, she was allegedly seen trying to leave the store with a $129 pair of denim shorts she hadn’t paid for.
When confronted, De Villiers reportedly confessed not only to taking the shorts but also to stealing multiple items since August 2025. The report lists a dress, jacket, and several shirts among the stolen goods, with a total estimated value of $1,964.35. De Villiers allegedly told officers she has been experiencing “personal difficulties” and felt she needed “to maintain a certain appearance” while working at the high-end retailer.
De Villiers was arrested by Boca Raton Police on charges of Organized Fraud under $20,000 and Grand Theft between $750 and $5,000. She was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and later released on $10,000 bond.
