Samuel Machuca, Home Depot Fraud, Rhode Island 2021

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A brazen scheme to fleece Home Depot stores across three New England states has landed three men in federal trouble. Authorities executed arrest warrants today, snagging two suspects and hunting for a third in a conspiracy that racked up over $600,000 in fraudulent purchases.

Samuel Machuca, a/k/a Ithier Batista-Rodriguez, a/k/a Angel Garcia-Sanchez, 50, of Attleboro, MA, and Luiyi Taveras-Garcia, 33, of Providence, are accused of leading the operation. They’re facing charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. A third man, Abel Bier Romero, 28, of Cranston, is also charged and remains at large, according to Acting United States Attorney Richard B Myrus.

The trio allegedly used stolen personal identifying information and either stolen or fabricated business credit accounts to purchase a massive haul of construction materials – everything from lumber and roofing to electrical and plumbing supplies. The fraudulent purchases spanned Home Depot locations in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, starting in November 2020. The scheme involved contacting Home Depot customer service and “Pro desks” with the bogus orders.

Federal agents hit paydirt today, recovering over $30,000 worth of the allegedly stolen construction materials from a garage in Cranston. The operation worked by receiving notification that the order was ready for pickup, then dispatching two or three individuals – often in the same white truck – to collect the goods. They used stolen names, credit card numbers, security codes and phone numbers to place the fraudulent orders.

Machuca and Taveras-Garcia appeared before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond today. Machuca was ordered detained, while Taveras-Garcia was released on an unsecured bond. Authorities continue to search for Abel Bier Romero. Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Ferland is prosecuting the case.

The investigation was spearheaded by the United States Secret Service New England Cyber Fraud Task Force, with valuable assistance from the Smithfield Police Department. It’s a stark reminder that even big box retailers aren’t immune to increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes. A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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