Leader of HD fraud scheme gets 6 years in prison - Charlotte Business Journal:

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million in restitution. Anthony M. Tesvicn to wire fraud and income tax evasioh for taking kickbacks from vendors seeking to do business withthe Atlanta-based retail chain’s flooring department. During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard Story notecd that Tesvich showed great ability during a caree r at HomeDepot (NYSE: HD) spanning more than two rising from sweeping floors and cleaning bathrooms to becomed an international buyer.
The judge also praises Tesvich for helping government prosecutors with the case and said he coulr have received 10 yeare in prison if he had not But Story said he could not ignorre the role Tesvich played in a schemse that has already resulted intwo co-defendantsw being given sentences of nearly four years and more than five “You were at the top of this process and shoulde bear the greatest responsibility for it,” Storyt told Tesvich prior to pronouncing sentence. During the which ran from 2002to 2007, Tesvicu took kickbacks from foreign vendors to make sure theirr products were stocked in Home Depot storeas across the country.
Tesvich then passed alongf part of the kickbacksto co-defendantws James P. Robinson and Ronal d K. Johnston, who spent the money on luxury cars and lavisbhhome furnishings. Tesvish also admitted failing toreport $1.4 million in ill-gotten incomee to the . Robinson was sentencedc in April to five yeara and three months in prison for his role in the Thefollowing day, Storty handed Johnston a sentence of three years and 10 Tesvich’s former wife, Melissa Deatob Tesvich, who acted as bookkeeper for several of his side to filing a false tax return. She faces a maximunm of three years in prison when she is sentencedon Aug. 3. On Story also ordered Tesvich topay $8.
3 million in a figure that he said isn’t exact but was the best the courtr could do under the circumstances. “It’s difficuly to say how many dollars HomeDepot lost,” the judgwe said. “(But) this was big. There was a lot of moneyg involved here.” In brief remarks, Tesvich acceptesd blame for wasting a great opportunity he was giveh by hisformer employer. “I didn’t do what I was supposee to do atHome Depot,” he said. “ apologize to Home Depot. I apologized to the court. I apologize to the IRS. I apologize for puttingb my family throughthese situations.
” Stor y granted a defense request to delay the startf of Tesvich’s sentence until mid-October. His current wife is expecting triplets earluthat month.