Ex-WeHa Resident Sentenced For Bilking Home Depot: Feds

U.S. Attorney's Office — Rhode Island

WEST HARTFORD, CT/PROVIDENCE, R.I., — A former West Hartford resident convicted of operating a steal-and-return scheme to Home Depot stores has been sentenced and will face deportation, according to federal officials.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office In Rhode Island, Alexandre Henrique Costa-Mota, 27, a Brazilian national and former West Hartford resident, was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island, which is where the offenses occurred.

Authorities said his operation went on for more than eight months prior to his arrest and detention nearly two years ago.

According to federal officials, Costa-Mota operated a scheme in several states, from Maine to Rhode Island to Maryland, to steal and return merchandise to Home Depot.

In doing so, he amassed and spent nearly $300,000 in store credit.

He has been sentenced to time served, ordered to pay full restitution, and faces deportation proceedings, said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha out of Rhode Island.

Costa-Mota pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island on Nov. 9, 2023, to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy.

He was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. to time served, three years of federal supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to Home Depot in the amount of $297,332.

In addition, official said Costa-Mota will be turned over to federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement to face deportation proceedings.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, on at least 60 occasions spread over approximately eight months from mid-2021 to early 2022, Costa-Mota stole merchandise from the retailer then returned the merchandise for store credit.

Federal authorities said he executed the scheme at no less than 40 different store locations.

"To evade detection, he used fake driver licenses for identification purposes," wrote federal officials.

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