Posted on July 13, 2008 by Thomas Withers

Another Home Depot Manager Pleads Guilty in Atlanta

A second Home Depot Manager, James P. Robinson, pleaded guilty in federal court in Atlanta on Friday to three counts of a criminal Information charging him with: 1) one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud while he was Divisional Merchandising Manager for flooring by taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in secret payoffs from Anthony Tesvich, a former Home Depot employee who has already pled guilty, and 2) two counts of tax evasion for failing to pay taxes on those secret payoffs. Robinson has also agreed to forfeit substantial properties, including real estate in Tennessee, a 2006 Infiniti SUV, a 2004 Cadillac Escalade and $146,000.00 in a bank account.

The charging document refers to another as yet uncharged co-conspirator and refers to other co-conspirators as well, so look for at least one more guilty plea to arise out of this investigation.

Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced on October 14, 2008, as is his co-defendant Tesvich.

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Posted on July 3, 2008 by Thomas Withers

Home Depot Employee Pleads Guilty in Massive Scheme

Anthony Tesvich, a former Home Depot employee, plead guilty in front of Judge Story in Atlanta on Monday to one count of conspiring to defraud Home Depot, and three counts of tax evasion. As part of his plea, Tesvich admitted to taking millions of dollars in secret payoffs from Home Depot vendors and failing to pay taxes on those kickbacks.

The lengthy Criminal Information, available here, alleges that Tesvich conspired with two other Home Depot employees, identified only as co-conspirators A and B, to obtain kickbacks from Home Depot suppliers through various front companies and then paid monies to his Home Depot co-conspirators for the purpose of concealing the receipt of those kickbacks.

Yesterday, July 2, Tesvich forfeited his interest in the following properties.

  • $465,999 .69 in proceeds from the consent sale of 90C Carriage Path, S .E ., Smyrna, Cobb County, Georgia;
  • 1E255 Mountain View Road, Desert Hot Springs, Riverside County, California, and all buildings and appurtenances thereon;
  • Twenty (20) Acres of Vacant Land, Parcel Number 657-270-023-6, Riverside County, California, and all buildings and appurtenances thereon;
  • 600 Schillinger Road N., Serrsnes, Mobile County, Alabama, and all buildings and appurtenances thereon;
  • 1916 Wildwood Place, Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, and all buildings and appurtenances thereon; and
  • $122,971 .75 in proceeds from the consent sale of Lot 43, Heron Lakes, Phase T, Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama.

Tesvich, who is cooperating with the government will be sentenced on September 2, 2008. Based on the government filings to date, other cases will arise out of Tesvich’s cooperation.

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