The Office of Statewide Prosecution, led by Attorney General Ashley Moody, has charged a man for his involvement in a fraudulent barcode scheme that resulted in the theft of more than $28,000 worth of electrical wire. The suspect, Edrey Santo Rojas, was apprehended following an investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
According to the investigation, Rojas executed his scheme by stealing rolls of wire through fraudulent sales and returns from multiple Lowe's and Home Depot stores across 15 counties in Florida and the Southeast United States. Over the course of seven months, Rojas used authentic barcodes from less expensive electrical wire to purchase higher-priced rolls of wire. He then conducted fraudulent returns by presenting the products, along with the receipt from the prior purchase, to customer service for a full refund.
Attorney General Ashley Moody expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "This thief stole more than $28,000 worth of wire rolls from home-improvement stores throughout 15 counties in a fraudulent barcode scheme. He committed more than 70 different thefts crossing multiple judicial circuits. Thanks to law enforcement and our Statewide Prosecutors, his spree is wired shut and now he faces multiple felony charges."
The investigation revealed that Rojas carefully removed authentic barcodes from smaller rolls of wire of the same color and affixed them to larger rolls that were priced between $300 to $500 each. By using a debit card, Rojas was able to purchase the wire at a significantly discounted price. He would then visit a different store, enter without any items, and select wire that matched the receipt in order to conduct a fraudulent in-store return.
Over the seven-month period, Rojas committed a total of 78 confirmed and documented thefts and fraudulent returns from various Lowe's and Home Depot locations in nine individual judicial circuits in Florida. Surveillance footage and itemized receipts provided evidence of a total proven loss of $28,405.
As a result of these findings, Rojas is facing multiple felony charges. The Office of Statewide Prosecution has charged him with two counts of retail theft $3,000 or more, a second-degree felony; one count of retail theft 20 or more items, a second-degree felony; and one count of retail theft $750 or more, a third-degree felony.
It is important to note that Rojas is already in custody for previous charges, including burglary, possession of burglary tools, trespassing, and other counts. He also has a no bond detainer for three separate cases involving fraudulent credit card use and grand theft charges.
The Office of Statewide Prosecution will handle the case, ensuring that justice is served.