SECOND FORMER HOME DEPOT EMPLOYEE CHARGED IN ALLEGED VENDOR KICKBACK SCHEME

Atlanta, GA—JAMES P. ROBINSON, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia, was charged today in a Criminal Information with two counts of income tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud against Home Depot, relating to a kickback scheme involving overseas vendors. ROBINSON made his initial appearance today before United States Magistrate E. Clayton Scofield, III, and was granted $10,000 bond.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, "This defendant is the second person who has been charged with taking secret payoffs from Home Depot's foreign suppliers and then not reporting or paying taxes on that corrupt income. Vendor kickbacks to corporate employees corrupt the honest operations of American businesses, and those who pay, receive, or solicit such payoffs may face federal prosecution."

"Taking kickbacks from suppliers undermines the competitive process," said Thomas O. Barnett, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department's Antitrust Division in Washington, D.C. "The Antitrust Division is committed to prosecuting those who participate in such conspiracies." See, USDOJ.

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