Man Indicted for Over $800,000 Worth of Retail Theft

ATLANTA - Yasin Saleem has been arraigned on federal charges of conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with defrauding Home Depot of more than $800,000.

"Saleem and a crew of conspirators allegedly used fictitious driver's licenses and fraudulent debits cards to exploit vulnerabilities within Home Depot's equipment and tool rental service by stealing more than $800,000," said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. "Our office is committed to partnering closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement investigators to disrupt these kinds of criminal schemes and to prosecute the individuals who perpetrate them at the expense of corporations."

"Saleem's retail theft scheme not only resulted in substantial financial loss for Home Depot but highlights the complex and widespread nature of organized retail crime," said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "This indictment demonstrates the need for strong and collaborative efforts between the FBI and private-sector partners, to combat such threats effectively."

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: Yasin Saleem and his co-conspirators allegedly presented fictitious driver's licenses to Home Depot to conceal their true identities in connection with fraudulent equipment and tool rentals. They also used debit cards with account holder names matching the fictitious licenses in these rentals. These debit cards were frequently issued prior to their use in the fraud scheme and carried the minimal amount of funds sufficient to commit the fraud.

The co-conspirators then failed to return the rented equipment and tools. Nor did the fraudulent debit cards carry sufficient funds to replace the stolen materials. Saleem and his co-conspirators allegedly disabled the GPS devices attached to the rental equipment in an effort to avoid detection. They also allegedly used stolen license plates to conceal their involvement in the scheme. In total, Saleem and his co-conspirators allegedly stole over $800,000 worth of equipment from Home Depot.

Yasin Saleem, 45 of Macon, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Christopher C. Bly on October 25, 2024. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 25, 2024.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.