A man was arrested at his home after allegedly engaging in organized criminal activity” in relation to the theft of more than $33,000 worth of inventory from Home Depot stores across the greater Houston area.
The man is a manager at the Cash America Pawn shop, at which deputies discovered much of the illegally obtained equipment. Those items include generators, chainsaws, paint sprayers, and welding equipment.
The investigation revealed the man worked in concert with another man who we arrested on June 22, 2018. According to reports, he would swap bar code stickers off expensive items at Home Depot and replace them with bar code stickers from items costing considerably less. He would then purchase those items, unbeknownst to the cashiers at the Home Depot stores.
In all, at least 20 Home Depot stores across the area were targeted. Deputies say the man would bring the items to the pawn shop to sell.
Deputies became suspicious of the man during the course of their investigation. He admitted prior to his arrest that he knew the items he accepted at the pawn shop were stolen. Many were still in original packaging. Deputies have now recovered nearly all of the items.
Engaging in organized criminal activity is a second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison if convicted, plus a $10,000 fine.
In addition to the theft charge against him, he now also faces a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity.
Another arrest and charges may follow. However, this case remains under investigation.
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