My question involves criminal law for the state of: New York
After making several returns without receipts to a department store (for store credit), I attempted to make a purchase with the credit. The cashier told me the balance was zero and she would call somebody to look into it. A few minutes later, another employee came over, told me there was a questionable return history and asked me to come with him.
To make a long story short, I gave him the store credit I had left, paid the difference between the credit that was originally issued and the remaining credit (what had been spent), signed a statement about what happened and another that I am not allowed in the store. He assured me he would not involve the police, he told me the store is more interested in being made whole and reimbursing them would do that. He told me I might receive a civil penalty up to $500.
About a week later, I received the demand for $500 from their attorney and paid it immediately. I wanted to be done with the whole nightmare, put it behind me and move on with my life.
A couple of days ago I received another civil demand for $500 with a different case number. I called the law office and was told they would look into it. I’m waiting to hear back from them.
My questions are:
How many civil penalties can they impose on me and what are my rights in not being punished multiple times for the same offense?
Can they involve the police after the fact even though I reimbursed them? (even though he promised not to?) Are they likely to do so?