A Former Connecticut resident could face deportation for allegations of stealing nearly $300,000 worth of Home Depot merchandise. The man’s name is Alexandre Henrique Costa-Mota, a 27-year-old Brazilian national.
According to The Justice Department’s District of Rhode Island office, he faces time served, three years of federal supervised release, and to pay $297,332 in restitution to Home Depot.
Costa-Mota pleaded guilty in November 2023 to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy. He will be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to face possible deportation, according to the Department of Justice.
Prosecutors said Costa-Mota stole things from the store on at least 60 occasions from June 2021 to February 2022. He would steal Home Depot’s merchandise and return it for store credit.
According to the Department of Justice, Costa-Mota hit at least 40 different store locations across multiple states. These include Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey stores.
They accuse him of using fake driver’s licenses and IDs to avoid discovery. In total, the well-traveled thief collected and spent $297,332 in store credit.
“It is alleged that Costa-Mota entered stores empty handed, dressed to appear like a contractor. He then collected Anderson doors, which he brought to each store’s Service Department where he made non-receipted returns of the doors,” the Justice Department said.
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Costa-Mota would get store credit for the returns, which he would redeem at other locations. Prosecutors said he would leave if one store declined to accept his returns. But rather than give up, he would simply take the merchandise to another store for store credit.
While his actions are decadent, they have barely affected Home Depot’s successful run in recent times. The retail company has reported positive earnings and revenue, beating analysts’ expectations.
They have experienced growth despite a nearly 3 percent drop in quarterly sales year over year. The company is expecting sales to increase by 1 percent in fiscal 2024. Still, vices like theft and shoplifting affect profits.
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At 37%, external theft (i.e., shoplifting) represents the largest share of losses from retail theft. Reports show that 9.09% of Americans shoplift, with juveniles aged 12-16 most likely to do it. Meanwhile, about 74.1% of retailers report increases in external theft over five years.
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