$10 Million Stolen in Largest Case Yet
Authorities uncovered a Home Depot theft ring that stole more than $10 million in merchandise across Southern California. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed a 48-count complaint against 14 suspects. Sheriff Jim Fryhoff called it the largest organized retail theft case in Home Depot’s history.
The multi-agency investigation, Operation Kill Switch, exposed over 600 thefts from 71 stores across Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Each trip brought in $6,000 to $10,000 worth of goods.
Mastermind and Key Players
David Ahl of the San Fernando Valley led the operation. He ran a wholesale business that accepted stolen merchandise in trash bags or Home Depot boxes. Boosters, the thieves who carried out the heists, received cash payments before Ahl resold the goods to contractors and electricians.
Prosecutors charged Ahl with 48 felonies, and he could serve up to 32 years in prison. His brother-in-law, Omid Abrishamkar, handled online sales through Amazon and eBay. He faces 11 charges and a possible 16-year sentence.
Ahl’s ex-wife, Lorena Solis, and her boyfriend, Enrique Neira Moreno, operated a separate fencing business. Both now face eight counts of conspiracy and could serve more than seven years.
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Booster Crews Behind Hundreds of Thefts
Three boosters — Jose Banuelos Guerrero, Edwin Rivera, and Eber Bonilla Lopez — carried out more than 600 thefts across 71 stores. Another pair, Erlin Hernandez Lopez and Denny Gomez, stole electrical items several times each week.
All members face conspiracy and organized retail theft charges. Depending on their roles, sentences could range from four to 21 years in state prison. Authorities explained that the crews quickly funneled merchandise into resale networks, creating a multimillion-dollar underground market.
Ongoing Case and Future Arrests
Sheriff Fryhoff stressed that the Home Depot theft ring investigation continues, and more arrests may follow. “This is the largest case of its kind uncovered in Home Depot’s history,” he noted. The case shows how organized retail crime can drain retailers and fuel illegal sales networks.
