NYC crew ripped off $2.2M worth of merch from Home Depot in ‘full time’ Ocean’s 11-style heists
A well-coordinated retail theft ring from Queens stole $2.2 million in merchandise from Home Depot stores across nine states, then sold the goods to “fences” who moved them on the black market, authorities said.
The crew, charged in a sprawling 780-count indictment, ran the scheme for 13 months. They were so organized that they held early-morning planning meetings and kept detailed lists of the items they targeted, the Queens District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
“This was essentially a full-time job for these defendants,” Queens DA Melinda Katz said. “They took lunch breaks, naps, and worked in shifts. They selected a store, took inventory of what they wanted, and once the products were stolen, they needed to quickly resell them to support the operation.”
The stolen merchandise—ranging from air conditioners to hand tools—was sold to five intermediaries, who then resold it to unsuspecting customers in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.
“They stole from Home Depot stores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Maryland,” Katz said. “They often parked near store exits, likely to quickly load the stolen goods into vans.”
Thirteen crew members were named in the indictment, including alleged ringleader Armando Diaz, 52, who led 5:30 a.m. planning sessions nearly every day in East Elmhurst. According to prosecutors, gang members would drive vans to targeted stores, while several went inside to gather items under Diaz’s guidance via earpieces.
Joana Carolina “La Mona” Fermin, 38, typically stayed in the van to watch for police and monitor the surroundings, officials said. The crew reportedly stole up to $35,000 in merchandise in a single raid.
Investigators said the gang carried out 319 thefts between August 2024 and September 2025. The case involved coordination between the DA’s office, state police, and Home Depot officials, who provided security footage of the thefts.
Search warrants executed at three homes, 14 storage units, and eight vehicles recovered large quantities of stolen goods, including lithium-ion batteries, power tools, copper wire, generators, Bluetooth speakers, and roof coating.
“It takes a joint effort to dismantle operations like this,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “But the reality is, people spend every waking hour figuring out how to steal, which drives prices higher for everyone. Retail theft costs billions every year, and in New York, we take it seriously. When we saw a spike, we acted immediately.”
Diaz, Fermin, and 10 other alleged crew members were arraigned on charges including conspiracy, grand larceny, and possession of stolen property. They are being held without bail pending future court dates. One defendant, involved in an unrelated case, has yet to be arraigned.
About Post Author
