Suspect in theft and return Home Depot scam sentenced

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A man who engaged in a scheme across several states to steal and return nearly $300,000 in Home Depot merchandise has been sentenced.

Alexandre Henrique Costa-Mota, 27, a Brazilian national, ran this scheme in Rhode Island among other states, and was sentenced to time served, ordered to pay full restitution of $297,332 and will face deportation proceedings.

The sentence was handed down in Rhode Island U.S. District Court after Costa-Mota pleaded guilty on November 9.

According to court documents, over eight months from 2021 to 2022, Costa-Mota stole merchandise from Home Depot and then returned it for store credit.

He operated this scheme in no less than 40 different Home Depot locations, using fake drivers licenses.