An enormous retail theft ring that boosted $2.2 million in Residence Depot merchandise was busted, the Queens District Lawyer’s Workplace introduced Thursday.
The ring operated in 9 states the place the crew allegedly stole greater than $2.2 million price of energy instruments, development tools, constructing provides, smoke alarms, air conditioners, laundry detergent, paper towels and different items in 319 separate incidents at 128 Residence Depot areas over a 13 month span. A lot of the stolen merchandise was then fenced on the black market.
Investigators stated the crew — which was allegedly led by defendant and Queens resident Armando Diaz — would test on-line stock the evening earlier than to resolve which shops to focus on the following day. The crew would meet at an East Elmhurst car parking zone close to the Lengthy Island Expressway at 5:30 a.m. each morning earlier than heading to the shops.
“The defendants took breaks for lunch and dinner, sometimes hitting the same Home Depot up to four times in one day,” district lawyer Melinda Katz stated. “The stolen objects have been then resold to shoppers, by a Brooklyn storefront or on Fb Market. Working with our companions on the New York State Police, we introduced this brazen operation to a halt.
Governor Hochul and Queens District Lawyer Katz Announce Indictment Fees in $2.2 Million Organized Retail Theft Bust. (Darren McGee/ Workplace of Governor Kathy Hochul)
“As alleged, this crew was amazingly coordinated, disciplined, meticulous and dedicated.”
The quantity stolen per day ranged from about $1,800 to just about $35,000 between Aug. 14, 2024, and Sept. 11, 2025.
A complete of 13 individuals are included within the 780-count indictment, with fees together with grand larceny, conspiracy and legal possession of stolen property for working a stolen items and fencing ring. One of many defendants has not been positioned by police, whereas 11 confronted a decide on Wednesday. The twelfth might be arraigned at one other date. Every faces as much as 25 years in jail if convicted.
Together with the arrests and indictments, 14 storage items have been seized and eight automobiles have been confiscated.
Katz stated the New York State Police assisted within the investigation, which started after state police recognized a considerable amount of Residence Depot merchandise being offered on-line in April 2024.
“The message today is organized retail crime will not go unanswered in this borough,” Katz stated.
The same retail theft ring that focused Residence Depot and Lowe’s areas together with rental automobile firms up and down the japanese seaboard was busted by federal authorities in January 2024. A minimum of 21 of the shops have been positioned within the Japanese District of New York, which covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and a swath of Lengthy Island.
