Home Depot Manager Accused of $4 Million Discount Scheme Didn't Personally Profit, Lawyer Says
Mauricio Jimenez, 48, was arrested on April 21 for allegedly giving more than 4,500 "unauthorized" discounts over a 26-month period
Credit: MDPD; Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty
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An attorney for an ex-Home Depot manager accused of giving more than $4 million in "unauthorized" discounts claimed in court that her client did not directly benefit from the alleged scheme
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Mauricio Jimenez, 48, was arrested on April 21 on accusations he gave more than 4,500 "unauthorized" discounts from December 2023 until April 2026
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Florida prosecutors argued that Jimenez did in fact benefit from the alleged scheme, because they claim he was paid higher bonuses for making more in sales
Although he was arrested earlier this month, an attorney for an ex-Home Depot manager accused of giving more than $4 million in “unauthorized” discounts in recent years says her client didn't directly benefit from the alleged scheme.
Florida prosecutors quickly shot down the defense attorney's claim in court last Wednesday, according to video published by NBC Miami showing Mauricio Jimenez's initial court appearance following his April 21 arrest.
USA Today , Local 10 and CBS News reported that Jimenez was arrested and accused of running a “systemic” scheme that gave “unauthorized” discounts on at least 4,500 separate purchases to repeat customers from December 2023 until April 2026. Prosecutors in court alleged the discounts cost the hardware retailer $4.3 million over the 26-month period.
According to the outlets, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office says Jimenez could face charges of organized fraud of $50,000 or more and first-degree grand theft.
"There's nothing that says that he was receiving any kickbacks, like he was getting any benefit from this," Jimenez's attorney, Melissa Ramos, told Judge Mindy Glazer, per video of his initial court appearance. “It just says that he was issuing discounts to different companies.”
Off-camera, a state prosecutor could be heard responding to Ramos' claim that Jimenez didn't directly benefit from the alleged discount scheme.
“Those discounts cost the company over $4 million, and by increasing his sales using those discounts, he was compensated with larger bonuses,” the prosecutor could be heard arguing. “So, I believe that there would be probable cause on both counts.”
Credit: MDPD
Judge Glazer agreed that Jimenez's bonuses from Home Depot for the increase in sales “would be probable cause for everything.” Given that Jimenez had “no priors,” according to Judge Glazer, the ex-store manager was released on $15,000 bond, provided he stayed away from the store where he previously worked.
Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center records show Jimenez was released from custody by Friday, April 24, according to CBS News and Local 10.
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Citing the arrest affidavit, USA Today reported that members of the Home Depot Assurance & Advisory Management Program noticed a "high quality, high value, high markdown order" at one of the company stores where Jimenez was previously employed.
Management later allegedly "observed multiple transactions" that only Jimenez had access to approve, which raised more red flags.
PEOPLE reached out to the MDSO and Home Depot for comment, but did not receive a response.
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