14 Arrested In Largest Organized Retail Theft Case In Home Depot History: Authorities

Southern California authorities this week announced the arrests of 14 people in connection with the largest organized retail theft case in Home Depot’s history, in which at least $10 million in merchandise was stolen over several years.

Of the 14 arrested, charges were announced Tuesday against nine, according to authorities, who said officials had seized at least $3.7 million in stolen Home Depot items since the mid-August arrests, as well as over $800,000 in suspected illicit money.

The operation included more than 600 thefts since January across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, according to authorities.

"These criminals have been operating a sophisticated multimillion-dollar enterprise that hurts businesses, workers and ultimately consumers," Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a news release. "Today's charges send a crystal-clear message, if you engage in these schemes we will find you.”

Authorities identified the ringleader as David Ahl, 59, of Woodland Hills, who is charged with 45 felony counts, including conspiracy, organized retail theft, grand theft, receiving stolen property and money laundering.

Ahl is accused of directing crews to steal high-end electrical merchandise, such as dimmer switches, circuit breakers and outlets, which he resold through Arya Wholesale, his Tarzana business, authorities said.

Also charged is Ahl’s brother-in-law, Omid Abrishamkar, 35, of Calabasas, who faces 11 felony counts, including conspiracy, receiving stolen property and money laundering, according to authorities, who said Abrishamkar is accused of reselling stolen merchandise on eBay.

Ahl’s ex-wife, Lorena Solis, 54, of Downey, and her partner, Enrique Neira Moreno, 59, of Downey, are each charged with eight felony counts of conspiracy for their roles in reselling stolen merchandise throughout the Los Angeles area, authorities said.

Supplying the operations were two organized theft crews, according to authorities.

The primary crew, made up of Jose Banuelos Guerrero, 60, of South Gate; Edwin Rivera, 32, of Los Angeles; and Eber Bonilla-Lopez, 39, of Pomona, is accused of committing daily thefts, stealing $6,000 to $10,000 in merchandise at a time, according to authorities. They face multiple felony counts, including conspiracy, organized retail theft, receiving stolen property and grand theft, authorities said.

A second theft crew, consisting of Erlin Lopez-Hernandez, 28, and Denny Gomez, 43, both of Pomona, is accused of stealing several times per week from stores throughout the region, according to authorities. The pair is charged with three felony counts of conspiracy to commit organized retail theft, authorities said.

Ahl, Abrishamkar, Solis, Moreno and Bonilla-Lopez are being held on $500,000 bail, according to authorities, while the other four are being held on $250,000 bail.