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Theft Ring Targeted Home Depot Stores in Nine States, Including NH, Investigators Say; 13 Charged
The ring stole $2.2 million in 319 thefts at 128 Home Depot stores, with stolen goods resold to black-market retailers, officials said.
- On Thursday, Governor Kathy Hochul and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced a 780-count indictment charging thirteen defendants tied to a ring that stole more than $2.2 million from 128 Home Depot stores across nine states.
- By scouting online inventory the night before, the crew chose which Home Depot stores and items to target, then prosecutors say stolen goods were sold to fences and on Facebook Marketplace.
- Armando Diaz, 52, of Flushing, coordinated the crew via earbuds and conference calls, with authorities seizing 14 storage units, eight vehicles, and recovering $1.5 million, prosecutors say.
- Eleven defendants were arraigned on Wednesday on charges including first-degree grand larceny; Joana Carolina `La Mona` Fermin pleaded not guilty with bail set at $500,000 cash or $1 million bond, and one defendant remains at large.
- The State Police Organized Retail Theft Task Force leveraged FY25 Enacted Budget tools, with Katz saying, `I thank Governor Hochul for signing laws that provide prosecutors' offices with tools to more efficiently investigate, and more effectively charge, organized retail theft and fencing operations.
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Theft ring targeted Home Depot stores in nine states, including NH, investigators say; 13 charged
New York’s Queens District Attorney’s Office on Thursday announced the indictments of 13 people as part of Operation Self Checkout. The suspects face charges including grand larceny, conspiracy and criminal possession of stolen property.
·New Hampshire, United States
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Home Depot theft ring busted in Queens after stealing $2.2 million
A massive retail theft ring that boosted $2.2 million in Home Depot merchandise was busted, the Queens District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday. The ring operated in nine states where the crew allegedly stole more than $2.2 million worth of power tools, construction equipment, building supplies, smoke alarms, air conditioners, laundry detergent, paper towels and other goods in 319 separate incidents at 128 Home Depot locations over a 13 mon…
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left5Leaning Right2Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 36%
C 50%
14%
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