Nine defendants are accused of participating in the largest organized retail theft case in Home Depot’s history, a multi-county operation responsible for millions of dollars in losses to stores across Southern California, according to a press release issued by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

“This case demonstrates the scale, scope, and sophistication of organized retail theft,” District Attorney Nasarenko said. “This wasn’t shoplifting; it was a criminal enterprise that allegedly stole millions, and it was finally stopped here in Ventura County.”

The alleged ringleader is accused of directing theft crews to steal high-end electrical merchandise, such as dimmer switches, circuit breakers, and outlets, that he then resold through Arya Wholesale, a business located in Tarzana, California.

Several other members of the organized theft ring are charged with felony counts, including conspiracy, receiving stolen property, and money laundering.

“This case shows just how profitable and damaging organized retail theft can be,” Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said at a news conference on the matter. “It shows the importance of collaboration. This investigation would not have been possible without the hard work of our detectives from our task force, the support of Home Depot Loss Prevention, and grant funding from the state.”

Two alleged organized theft crews supplied the operations.

Investigators with the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force tracked the crews to more than 600 alleged thefts since January 2025 in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.

Home Depot estimates the group is responsible for at least $10 million in stolen merchandise over several years. The task force seized at least $3.7 million in stolen Home Depot property since the arrests took place on August 14, 2025.

The District Attorney’s Office has also seized over $800,000 in suspected illicit money from financial accounts belonging to members of the theft ring.

“These criminals have been operating a sophisticated multi-million dollar enterprise that hurts businesses, workers, and ultimately consumers,” said Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman. “Today’s charges send a crystal-clear message: if you engage in these schemes, we will find you. And it makes no difference if you are in Los Angeles County, Ventura County, or anywhere in California; we will work with our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal networks.”

The case was aided by two state-funded Organized Retail Theft grants that support specialized investigators and prosecutors. It was also filed in Ventura County under the authority of Assembly Bill 1779, authored by Assembly member Jacqui Irwin, which allows prosecutors to consolidate cases involving the same defendants across multiple counties.