by Alison Storm | 03/17/10

While Jennifer Mercado sat on the jury of an accused credit card thief, authorities say she was committing a crime herself. The March 8 crime allegedly happened during the trial of Warren Stewart, accused of burglary, larceny and possessing a stolen credit card.

Police say during the trial Mercado stole another juror's credit cards and actually used the stolen plastic to make purchases while on trial lunch breaks. She was apparently caught using the stolen American Express on a store's security camera. Authorities say Mercado racked up more than $500 in fraudulent charges using fellow juror John Postrk's card, buying four pair of shoes including a pair of Nike Air Jordans.

In a report by the New York Daily News Mercado said, "The guy did give me permission to use his credit card." When asked why he would do that Mercado said it was because the other juror came onto her in the courtroom. Forty-nine-year-old Postrk didn't comment, saying prosecutors told him not to. The defendant, Stewart, was ultimately convicted of burglary, but was acquitted of having stolen a credit card.