The Delaware State Police arrested 31-year-old Christian Pacheco of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on identity theft and related felony charges following a multi-month Home Depot fraud investigation.
In October 2025, a corporate investigator for Home Depot contacted the Delaware State Police Troop 2 Financial Crimes Unit regarding multiple fraudulent purchases. Detectives learned that between August and September 2025, a suspect made 28 visits to various Home Depot locations throughout Delaware. During these visits, the suspect told store employees he had forgotten his Home Depot credit card and provided them with a legitimate cardholder’s Social Security number. The suspect also presented fraudulent identification cards that displayed his photograph but contained the victim’s personal information. Using the stolen identities of multiple cardholders, the suspect made more than $24,000 in fraudulent purchases.
Through investigative means, detectives identified the suspect as Pacheco and obtained warrants for his arrest. On January 5, 2026, Pacheco was taken into custody at an airport in New Jersey.
On January 29, 2026, Pacheco was transferred to Delaware and taken to Troop 2 where he was charged with the below listed crimes, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, and released after posting a $63,750 cash bond.
- Identity Theft (Felony) – 28 counts
- Forgery Second Degree (Felony) – 28 counts
- Unlawful Use of Payment Card Stolen Forged or Fictitious Victim 62 or Older (Felony) – 19 counts
- Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony) – 6 counts
- Theft Under $1,500 – 28 counts
- Unlawful Use of Payment Card – 9 counts
- Shoplifting Under $1,500