Ringleader stole nearly half a million dollars in equipment from Florida Home Depot stores: Moody
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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Charges have been filed against the leader of an organized theft ring that stole nearly half a million dollars worth of equipment from Home Depot stores, Florida Attorney Ashley Moody announced Monday.
Moody said Jerome Downing is facing multiple felony charges after he allegedly stole heavy equipment, such as stump grinders, trenchers, boom lifts, excavators, and more, and sold them at discounted prices.
Downing claimed to be a wholesaler and sold the equipment on Facebook Marketplace, according to Moody.
The scheme resulted in more than $460,000 in losses for Home Depot and thousands of dollars in losses for those buying the equipment under false pretenses.
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“This scheme not only resulted in major losses to Home Depot, but also losses for innocent civilians buying stolen rental equipment under false pretenses. Thanks to the many law enforcement partners in this case and our Statewide Prosecutors, this defendant’s final rent is now due, and he faces serious felony charges,” Moody said in a statement.
Investigators learned Downing was sending straw purchasers to Home Depot with prepaid credit cards to get equipment, which is typically rented for 24 to 48 hours. Then, he listed the items for sale on Facebook.
The posts featured photos of units belonging to Home Depot, which were offered for prices less than the typical market value, Moody said.
To explain the discounted prices, Downing claimed to be a wholesaler who was attempting to sell the items before taking them to auction.
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The scheme targeted multiple Home Depot stores across the state of Florida and resulted in the theft and sale of 21 different pieces of rental equipment, according to Moody.
Downing is facing several charges, including an organized scheme to defraud $50,000 or more, conspiracy to commit an organized scheme to defraud $50,000 or more, fraudulent use of personal identification, and 21 counts of unlawful sublease of a motor vehicle.
The Miami-Dade Police Department and Port St. Lucie Police Department investigated the case with the help of multiple local jurisdictions.
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