A former Home Depot manager has been accused of orchestrating an elaborate fraud scheme that allegedly cost the company millions of dollars.
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Mauricio Jimenez, 48, faces charges of organized fraud and first-degree grand theft.
Prosecutors allege that Jimenez manipulated pricing and fulfilled orders tied to accounts he personally handled, creating a long-running scheme across two Miami-area stores.
Authorities estimate the total losses exceeded $4 million.
Home Depot Manager Arrested Over Alleged $4M Fraud Scheme
The alleged scheme first raised concerns while Jimenez worked at a Home Depot location in Hialeah, where management noticed irregularities.
According to reports, those discrepancies grew significantly after he transferred to a store in Flagler.
Investigators say store leadership identified a pattern of transactions that only Jimenez had the authority to approve, prompting further scrutiny.
"According to the arrest affidavit, the investigation began after the Home Depot Assurance & Advisory Management Program discovered a 'high quality, high value, high markdown order' during a visit to Jimenez's previous store in Hialeah Gardens, Florida," USA Today's Fernando Cervantes Jr. wrote.
Jimenez appeared in bond court on Wednesday, where his attorney pushed back against the allegations.
"Your honor, there's nothing that says that he is receiving any kickbacks, like he was getting any benefit from this," defense attorney Melissa Ramos said, via CBS News.
Prosecutors, however, argued that Jimenez indirectly benefited through increased bonuses tied to higher reported sales.
A prosecutor added that "there would be probable cause on both counts."
Thousands of Transactions Under Investigation
According to the arrest report, the markdown strategy created a "negative sales margin of about $4.3 million for these accounts."
Authorities allege that Jimenez used "deliberate" and "systematic" tactics across more than 4,500 unauthorized purchases.
Those transactions reportedly totaled around $55 million and took place between December 2023 and April 2026.
Detectives noted that while the discounted sales did not generate profit, they ultimately cost Home Depot "over 4 million dollars to sell to [the] accounts."
Judge Mindy Glazer also found probable cause to proceed with the charges, stating that "he was compensated by Home Depot with larger bonuses because of higher sales."
Judge Glazer set Jimenez's bond at $15,000 and ordered him to stay away from Home Depot locations.
He has since been released after posting bond.
