Home Atlanta Press Releases 2009 Mableton Man Faces Federal Charges Arising Out of Home Depot Kickback Scheme
Info
This is archived material from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) website. It may contain outdated information and links may no longer function.

Mableton Man Faces Federal Charges Arising Out of Home Depot Kickback Scheme
Defendant Paid Over $1.4 Million in Bribes to a Home Depot Employee

U.S. Attorney’s Office October 21, 2009
  • Northern District of Georgia (404) 581-6000

ATLANTA—IAN JAY EVANS, 49, of Mableton, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and 17 additional counts of money laundering, related to bribes that he allegedly paid to a high-level Home Depot employee. EVANS was arraigned today by United States Magistrate Judge E. Clayton Scofield, III.

IRS Special Agent In Charge Reginael D. McDaniel said, “IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to commit financial expertise to unravel illegal schemes. Our role is to trace the ill-gotten monies to the individuals ultimately responsible for the crime.”

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates, the indictment, and information presented in court: From approximately June 2002 through approximately May 2005, EVANS, a former product merchant for Home Depot who left the company in February 2001, paid more than $1.4 million in kickbacks to RONALD DOUGLASS MATHENY II, 49, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, who was, at the time, a product merchant at Home Depot. In exchange for the kickbacks he received from EVANS, MATHENY arranged for Home Depot to purchase items through EVANS for resale in Home Depot’s retail stores on less than the most advantageous terms to Home Depot, and to have EVANS supply services to Home Depot and its suppliers on less than the most advantageous terms to Home Depot.

MATHENY was charged in a criminal information and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in relation to this kickback scheme on May 19, 2009. MATHENY is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Richard W. Story on December 3, 2009, at 9:30 a.m.

EVANS could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition, EVANS could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on each of the substantive money laundering counts. EVANS also could be fined up to $250,000 on each count. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment against EVANS contains only allegations. EVANS is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government's burden to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

Anyone with information on corporate kickbacks and fraud is asked to call the FBI at 404-679-9000.

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by John R. Fitzpatrick and Barbara W. Cash, trial attorneys for the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division, Atlanta Field Office, and Assistant United States Attorney Russell Phillips.

For further information please contact Sally Quillian Yates, Acting United States Attorney or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.

This content has been reproduced from its original source.