PHOENIX, AZ – A Tempe Home Depot employee is accused of a brazen four-year scheme to replace legitimate cash deposits with counterfeit bills, costing the retail giant a staggering $387,500. Adrian Jean Pineda, a vault associate at the store, was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents on January 31, 2022, and now faces federal charges for uttering counterfeit U.S. currency.
Pineda’s job gave him access to the store’s daily deposits. According to the criminal complaint, he allegedly swapped genuine currency for fakes while preparing the cash for transfer to Wells Fargo Bank. The scheme reportedly ran from January 2018 to January 2022, with the losses slowly accruing over time before being detected. Home Depot security flagged the suspicious deposits, prompting the Secret Service investigation.
“The Secret Service was originally formed in 1865 to enforce federal laws against counterfeiting,” stated U.S. Secret Service Phoenix Field Office Special Agent in Charge Frank Boudreaux Jr. “This case illustrates the continued commitment of the Secret Service and the US Attorney’s Office to investigating and prosecuting counterfeit violations.” Boudreaux praised the collaborative effort between his agents, Home Depot security, and Wells Fargo Bank, calling it a “strategic investigation.”
During Pineda’s arrest, agents seized $5,000 in counterfeit currency. A subsequent search warrant executed at his residence yielded an additional $22,000 in genuine currency and $5,300 in counterfeit bills, bringing the total recovered to $32,300. The origins of the counterfeit currency are still under investigation, and authorities are exploring potential connections to larger counterfeiting operations.
Pineda is charged with violation of 18 USC 472 – Uttering of Counterfeit U.S. Currency. He is scheduled to appear for a status hearing in the District of Arizona Federal Courthouse on Monday, February 7, 2022. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case. It’s worth noting that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and Pineda is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Secret Service, while famously known for protecting the President, maintains a robust investigative mission focused on financial crimes, including counterfeiting. This case serves as a reminder that even seemingly mundane positions within legitimate businesses can be exploited for illicit gain. The agency urges anyone with information regarding counterfeit currency to contact their local Secret Service field office.
Related Federal Cases
- Adrianne Marta Frazer, Tax Refund Fraud, Phoenix AZ, 2023 · Oregon
- John S. Leonardo, Voter Fraud Prevention, Phoenix AZ, 2023 · New Mexico
- Allen Smith, Counterfeit Veterinary Product Trafficking, AZ 2024 · New Mexico
- Akira Salinas-Ruiz, Murder of 18-Month-Old, Wisconsin, 2006 · Wisconsin
- Everardo Gregorio, Arson Inciting Hatred, Casa Grande AZ, 2024 · Mississippi
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News