Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Layrisson reported that a five month-long investigation has led to the arrest of a LaPlace woman on felony theft charges. 
Linda Monistere, 43, of Elmwood Drive in Laplace was arrested on Aug. 28 and charged with felony theft.
In March, the owners of Northshore Airport Express contacted the Ponchatoula Police Department concerning a theft of an Apple iPad. The owners felt that a former employee, Monistere, used 72,000 reward points from a business credit card to obtain the iPad. An investigation ensued, and through the investigation detectives learned that Monistere allegedly rerouted more than $29,000 that was
to be paid to Northshore Airport Express from American Express
into her personal checking account. The owners advised detectives that Monistere did not have permission from them for this type of activity.
Detectives were able to subpoena Monistere’s banking records and learned this type of embezzlement occurred at least 36 times between December 2012 and March 2013. Eventually, Monistere provided a written admission of guilt.
Monistere turned herself in to detectives with the Ponchatoula Police Department on Aug. 28, and Monistere was booked and placed into parish jail in Amite on the above stated charges.