Yasin Saleem, Retail Theft, Georgia 2024

ATLANTA - Yasin Saleem has been accused of masterminding a massive retail theft scheme that defrauded Home Depot out of over $800,000, according to federal charges filed in the Northern District of Georgia.

The 45-year-old Macon, Georgia resident allegedly used fictitious driver's licenses and fraudulent debit cards to exploit vulnerabilities within Home Depot's equipment and tool rental service, allowing him and his co-conspirators to steal an estimated $800,000 worth of equipment.

Yasin Saleem, 45, of Macon, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Christopher C. Bly on October 25, 2024.

“Saleem and a crew of conspirators allegedly used fictitious driver’s licenses and fraudulent debit cards to exploit vulnerabilities within Home Depot’s equipment and tool rental service by stealing more than $800,000,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.

The indictment alleges that Saleem and his co-conspirators presented fictitious driver’s licenses to Home Depot to conceal their true identities in connection with fraudulent equipment and tool rentals. They also used debit cards with account holder names matching the fictitious licenses in these rentals, which were frequently issued prior to their use in the fraud scheme.

Saleem and his co-conspirators allegedly disabled the GPS devices attached to the rental equipment in an effort to avoid detection. They also allegedly used stolen license plates to conceal their involvement in the scheme.

Yasin Saleem was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 25, 2024. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/man-indicted-over-800000-worth-retail-theft