Jonathan Allen, 33, of Ecorse, was arraigned on four felony counts on Aug. 6 before Judge Steven R. Worpell of the 80th District Court in the central Michigan city of Harrison. He is accused of allegedly stealing and then selling rental equipment from Home Depot, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in an email.
He was charged with participating in a criminal organization, a crime punishable by 20 years in prison, and three counts of false pretenses totaling $20,000 or more but less than $50,000.
The Attorney General’s Office alleges Allen sold several pieces of heavy equipment, including a backhoe, excavator and cherry picker, to a Harrison man in June and July 2023. The equipment was allegedly advertised on Facebook Marketplace and listed as belonging to a recently deceased relative of Allen’s. The agency alleges the heavy equipment was rented from Home Depot locations in Taylor, Utica and Farmington Hills and was never returned. The estimated value of the allegedly stolen machines, which Allen sold for $23,000, is over $70,000. All of the stolen equipment has been recovered.
“This scheme not only defrauded the individual out of thousands of dollars, but also disrupted business operations at multiple Home Depot locations and affected countless customers who rely on these tools for their projects,” Nessel wrote. “My FORCE team is committed to holding those who commit organized retail crime accountable.”
Allen will next appear in 80th District Court on August 19.
