From January 2018 to last month, a Home Depot in Tempe, Ariz., recorded $387,500 in losses due to receiving counterfeit bills, the U.S. Secret Service announced Friday.
Agents from the Phoenix Field Office Monday arrested the man who was allegedly behind the swap, identified as Adrian Jean Pineda. He was a vault associate responsible for preparing cash from registers for bank deposits.
Pineda’s duties included counting cash and sealing cash bags for transfer to Wells Fargo Bank. Instead of sealing actual cash in the bags, Pineda allegedly replaced the genuine currency with counterfeit bills.
When he was arrested, Secret Service agents seized $5,000 in counterfeit currency and recovered $5,300 in genuine currency. Upon executing a search warrant of Pineda’s residence, another $22,000 in genuine currency was found.
“Yesterday’s arrest and search warrant operation marked the culmination of a strategic investigation enacted by Phoenix special agents, Home Depot security personnel and Wells Fargo Bank,” said U.S. Secret Service Phoenix Field Office Special Agent in Charge Frank Boudreaux Jr. “I’m extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of all involved and thank our partners for their commitment and vigilance.”
According to CNN, Pineda was released from custody. He is scheduled to appear for a status hearing in the District of Arizona Federal Courthouse Feb. 7 and is accused of violating 18 USC 472 – Uttering of Counterfeit U.S. Currency.
An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, said the Secret Service.
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