Florida Police Bust $100,000 Home Depot Organized Theft Ring

May 16, 2024 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, News & Announcements, Theft/Property Crimes Social Share

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody recently announced a series of charges for suspects involved in an organized theft ring that targeted Home Depot. The group formed an organized retail theft ring in which they stole over $100,000 worth of items from dozens of stores.

This page will provide the case details and information pertaining to the charges against the defendants.

Case Details

In charging documents, the Attorney General announced that the three thieves had stolen more than 281 buckets of roof sealer from 25 Home Depot locations in 11 different counties. Given the price of the roof sealer, this was ultimately worth more than $100,000 when the thieves were caught.

The suspects in the case were identified as Vicky Popat, 41, Christopher Abad, 30, and Christopher Baglin, 39.

The group evaded detection by authorities by switching the bar code of the roof sealer with the bar codes of other items that were usually between 95 and 97 less expensive, which allowed the scheme to continue for about three years.

The group switched the barcodes on Henry 887 Tropi-Cool roof sealant, costing $248-$445, and Henry 345 Pre-Mixed Floor Patch, costing $9.98, at self-checkout stations in the stores. The group typically stole from two to three stores per day, barcode switching four to 16 buckets per transaction,” the Attorney General noted.

The Attorney’s General’s office charged Popat with one count of grand theft over $100,000, a first-degree felony. Abad and Baglin are each charged with one count of grand theft over $20,000, a second-degree felony. 

Additionally, all members of the group are charged with one count of scheme to defraud over $20,000. 

This is the latest of multiple Florida organized theft rings that have targeted storms like Home Depot. In October of 2023, a Florida pastor was charged as one of five people involved in a theft ring that stole over $1.4 million worth of items from Home Depot. Authorities say the pastor ran the operation by ordering those at his drug shelter to steal on his behalf, and he later resold the items. According to Home Depot, the items would have been worth over $5 million if they were sold in-store.

Theft Offenses

In Florida, theft offenses can often be difficult to distinguish between. Under Florida Statute 812.014, theft is committed if a person knowingly obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or to use, the property of another person with intent to, either temporarily or permanently deprive that other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property.

Additionally, theft occurs if the individual appropriates the property to his or her own use, or to the use of any person who is not entitled to the use of the property.

One of the primary theft offenses covered by the statute is grand theft, which is graded by degrees. If the property stolen in a grand theft is:

1. Valued at over $100,000, or is a semi-trailer that was deployed by a law enforcement officer, or; 

2. If the property stolen is cargo valued at over $50,000 and has entered the stream of either in-state or interstate commerce.

An offender may face charges of a felony in the first degree, which carries up to thirty years in prison.

The offense becomes second degree grand theft if property stolen is valued at $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000, If the property stolen is cargo valued at less than $50,000 that has entered the stream of commerce, or $300 of medical or law enforcement equipment have been stolen. Such an offense is punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Third degree grand theft charges may apply if the items stolen are:

• Valued at $750 or more, but less than $20,000;
• A motor vehicle;
• A will, codicil, or other testamentary instrument;
• A firearm;
• A commercially farmed animal;
• A fire extinguisher;
• Any amount of citrus fruit consisting of 2,000 or more individual pieces of fruit;
• A stop sign;
• Items taken from a designated construction site identified by the posting of a sign as provided for in s. 810.09(2)(d);
• Any amount of a controlled substance as defined in s. 893.02.
• Items valued at more than $100, but less than $750, that are taken from a dwelling or from the enclosed curtilage of such dwelling

An individual convicted of third degree grand theft faces up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. 

Petit theft in the second degree is any type of theft that is not covered by the grand theft provision. This offense is a second degree misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 60 days in jail.

Fraud 

Florida Statute Section 817.034 defines a scheme to defraud as a “systematic, ongoing course of conduct with intent to defraud one or more persons, or with intent to obtain property from one or more persons by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises or willful misrepresentations of a future act.”

For individuals charged with fraud-related offenses, penalties may vary depending on the value of the type and severity of the fraud.

If the amount of property defrauded is more than $50,000, this is a first degree felony punishable by up to thirty years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000.

If the amount of property defrauded has an aggregate value of between $20,000 and $50,000, this is a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000.

If the amount of property defrauded has an aggregate value of less than $20,000, this is a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine.

For schemes to defraud, anyone who engages in a fraud scheme and communicates with any person in furtherance of that scheme with intent to obtain property from that person is guilty of the offense.

If the amount of property targeted by the fraud scheme is worth more than $300, this is a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine. If less than $300, it is a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Contact a Fraud Defense Attorney in Tallahassee, Florida 

If you have been charged with fraud in North Florida, it is important to understand the charges you face. A fraud conviction carries profound consequences, such as paying expensive fines, restitution, and the possibility of imprisonment. The attorneys at Pumphrey Law Firm can provide you with support in fighting such charges.

If you have been charged with fraud in Leon County or the surrounding areas, contact an experienced Tallahassee fraud defense attorney at Pumphrey Law Firm. Our defense attorneys will counsel you throughout the legal process and ensure you have the best defense to combat your charges. Contact us today to receive a free consultation by calling (850) 681-7777.

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