[PHOTO CREDIT: TheHomeDepot.com]
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CLERMONT, Florida – A three-year employee of The Home Depot is facing grand theft and scheming to defraud charges after police said he stole more than $2,000 over nearly a one-year span.
Christopher Arocho, 48, of Minneola created fraudulent accounts with merchandise purchases and did not add a payment method, according to the probable cause affidavit. Arocho would then return the merchandise using his wife, Kathyann’s name and refund the money to his own credit card. A loss prevention officer told police Arocho had performed at least 11 transactions since Dec. 27, 2018.
The store manager and assistant manager started catching on to Arocho’s scheme in August after discovering several receipts missing payment methods. The manager began researching and found Arocho had refunded purchases to his personal credit card and found video surveillance showing the same, according to the affidavit. The two managers spoke with Arocho about the transactions and he was “really nervous… and [claimed he] could not stay because his wife had been in a car accident,” the affidavit states. He was then fired.
Clermont Police took Arocho into custody and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrested him on a warrant on Oct. 5. He was released the same day on $4,000 bond.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
