The U.S. Secret Service announced Friday that a Home Depot employee had been arrested for changing out almost $400k of the store’s cash with counterfeit bills.
Adrian Jean Pineda was arrested at the Home Depot in Tempe, Arizona, on January 31, where he worked as a vault associate. During the arrest, agents seized $5,000 in counterfeit currency and $5,300 in genuine cash.
During the execution of a search warrant at Pineda’s residence, an additional $22,000 was located.
According to the criminal complaint, Pineda was responsible for preparing the cash from the registers for bank deposits. Instead, he was exchanging the currency with counterfeit money during his shift. From January 2018 through January 2022, Pineda swapped out $387,500.
“This case illustrates the continued commitment of the Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigating and prosecuting counterfeit violations,” U.S. Secret Service Phoenix Field Office Special Agent in Charge Frank Boudreaux Jr. said in a press release. “Yesterday’s arrest and search warrant operation marked the culmination of a strategic investigation enacted by Phoenix special agents, Home Depot security personnel, and Wells Fargo Bank. I’m extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of all involved and thank our partners for their commitment and vigilance.”
Pineda was charged with uttering of counterfeit U.S. currency. He is scheduled to appear in court on February 7.
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