The Madison Police Department issued the following press release:
EMBEZZLEMENT INVESTIGATION –HOME DEPOT MADISON
On September 4, 2015 Investigators with the Madison Police Department were contacted by representatives of the loss prevention/fraud department of the Home Depot Company. Police investigators were made aware of an on-going internal investigation at the Home Depot store in Madison involving the potential on-going and systematic embezzlement of merchandise and funds from the Madison store by several employees.
Allegedly fraudulent customer sales orders and invoices had been generated by several employees for merchandise in the store. Other cohorts involved in the alleged scheme who were not employed by the store would arrive and accept the merchandise as being paid for, leaving the store with the stolen merchandise. Similarly, it is alleged that individuals also returned some of the stolen merchandise to the store to obtain cash refunds. Investigators determined that the alleged embezzlement had been occurring since approximately February of 2014 and involved approximately $133,000 in merchandise and cash. Further instances of embezzlement are still being researched and investigated.
As a result of the investigation to date several arrest warrants have been obtained and executed. Leunta M. Friar, age 30, of Flora, MS and Everette E. Pennock, age 69, of Crystal Springs, MS were arrested on September 10, 2015 each being charged with one count of Embezzlement over $1000. Mark Patchin, age 57, of Pearl, MS was arrested on September 11, 2015 and charged with one count of Embezzlement over $1000. On Friday, September 11, 2015 these three individuals received an initial court appearance before Madison Municipal Court Judge Dale Danks where their bond was set at $250,000 each.
This is an on-going investigation with further charges and arrests expected.
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Leunta M. Friar, age 30
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Everette E. Pennock, age 69
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Mark Patchin, age 57
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16 comments:
Glad these thugs are off the street.
I'm SHOCKED, SHOCKED that these men from Madison, Copiah, and Rankin counties committed a crime. I thought that Hinds residents were the only ones. Go figure!
Throw away the keys. Get these three thugs out of my Home Depot!
Surely these crooks are really from Jackson and gave the cops false addresses.
I just hope Jackson's criminal culture has not spread.
Well, I'll just be damned. Both of the white guys have helped me find things for years. If I'm not mistaken, the youngest of the two white guys was a department supervisor in the building products area and I know they both worked in that area and have been there for years. I'll just be damned.
No doubt they have been doing this for years, just discovered.
The older one was the most helpful. Last week when I was in there, a tall white guy probably age 30 or so tried to sell me a returned merchandise card. This has also happened in Lowes but I bet all of those people doing that are just returning stolen merchandise.
Madison is so through. Better pack up and head to Gluckstadt.
"Surely these crooks are really from Jackson" Take off your rose colored glasses! Madison is NOT Mayberry, there are crooks and thugs everywhere not just in Jackson!
What is a 'returned merchandise card'. I've returned items to Home Depot and Lowes quite often. In those cases where I don't have my receipt, they scan the item and give me a store card with that amount loaded onto it. If I have the receipt, they return the payment if it was cash or refund it to my credit card if I paid in that manner.
If they issue me a company cash card, the amount is NOT reflected on the card. If that's what is said to be for sale in the parking lot, it makes no sense as the value can't be determined in the parking lot.
There used to be an employee (in the building materials area) at Home Depot who would always give me a 'veteran's discount' when he checked me out. Sometimes it amounted to a lot of money if I was purchasing, for example, 300 pieces of fence-board. I'm not a veteran.
10:50: You enjoyed your "discount" though. Can't say I wouldn't either. Who's guiltier? Yo, Me or him.
Unbelievable!!! Worked with two of these guys for years. I will surely be disappointed if this is true. The third one, maybe so?? Always had a bad feeling about him...
These guys are long time employees. They know that you do not get away with this. It is impossible to do what they are accused of doing and get away with. You will be caught! Period!! I do not believe it. Maybe I am crazy?? Scapegoats??
The department head in this scenario (the younger of the two white men) told me numerous times that they were watching at least one guy for this sort of thing. He also told me that one employee who had a stroke and was off on some sort of medical leave was guilty of this same activity. Not sure why he would tell me all this if he was doing it himself.
As to the question of whether or not a customer would accept a discount given to him by an employee, why would a customer NOT do that? (Sir, would you like the 20% Wednesday discount for ladies?) Why shit yes!
I worked with all three of these guys there. This is just a total shock to me. How could they even think for one second that this scam if you will would work?? Just Crazy!!! I believe someone higher paid had their dirty hands in this. Has to be!
I do 'not' believe everything I have read, heard or seen concerning this so called 'case'....there are such things as 'smoke screen', scape goats and people who know what is going on and lay blame on others when they feel the heat coming down.....i truly beleive this is the case here. i have met all of them and while i think it's possible that some 'markdowns' may have occured, i do not believe that these are the problem with missing inventory, if i were a store manager here, i'd consider lie detectors to see who shows up or 'misses' work that day. just saying..
That one guy as tall as Shaq!
Kingfish, could you please give an update on this case? I heard the grand jury issued a "No Bill" and its been dropped???
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