Local man sentenced to prison for defrauding Home Depot of $600,000 at Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire locations

A local man who admitted to participating in a conspiracy that defrauded Home Depot out of more than one half-million dollars in tools and building supplies was sentenced today to one year and a day in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

According to charging documents, 35-year-old Luiyi Taveras-Garcia, of Providence participated in a wide-ranging scheme that used stolen or fraudulently created business credit accounts to defraud Home Depot of $600,000 in building, roofing, electrical, plumbing and other contractor supplies at stores in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

Additionally, at the time of his guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Tavares admitted to a federal judge that he also purchased construction materials for use in his roofing business from another member of the conspiracy who allegedly obtained those materials from Home Depot with the use of stolen credit information.

At sentencing today, U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy sentenced Tavares-Garcia to 12 months and one day of incarceration; three years of federal supervised release; and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $46,749 to Citibank, who provided lines of customers to Home Depot customers.

A second defendant charged in this matter, Abel Bier Romero, 29, of Cranston, is awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.