Crime & Safety
3 Charged in Connection With Home Depot Fraud Ring
One of the suspects arrested is accused of stealing more than $33,000 worth of merchandise from Home Depot. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
Three people were arrested and charged with retail theft in connection with a Home Depot fraud ring.
The Utica police arrested the three suspects, two men and a woman, on Aug. 17 outside Home Depot.
Arraigned Thursday in 41-A District Court were William Montgomery, 51, of Detroit on charges of second-degree retail fraud and driving on a suspended license, second offense; Pamela Greenfield, 42, of Belleville on a second-degree retail fraud and Calvin Johnson, 44, of Toledo on charges of first-degree retail fraud, controlled substances and possession of analogues. Analogues are drugs which are chemically similar to other drugs.
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Police said Johnson would steal items from Home Depot almost every day and pay Greenfield and Montgomery $20 to return the stolen items at another location.
When Utica Officer Greg Morabito arrested the trio, they had allegedly just attempted to return stolen cans of paint, two rolls of wire, circuit breakers and other items valuing more than $600.
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Greenfield and Montgomery admitted to police that Johnson had stolen the items from the Home Depot on 16 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue, police said.
Morabito noticed the suspicious trio when they started circling the parking lot and loaded up a cart full of merchandise. Greenfield and Montgomery entered the store, and Johnson climbed into the backseat of the vehicle and began drinking a beer, police said.
When Morabito approached Johnson and asked what he was doing, his responses didn’t add up. In the meantime, Greenfield and Montgomery came out of the store and were questioned.
During a search of Greenfield’s purse, two needles and a crack pipe were found, police said.
Home Depot loss prevention officers told police they suspected the three in another theft last month.
Federal agents told Utica police that Johnson is responsible for nearly $33,000 in thefts from Home Depot.
In addition, Utica police learned that the three were part of a large group that is going to be indicted in Perrysburg, OH on multiple Home Depot thefts.
For questions about this report, email marina.cracchiolo@patch.com.
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