A Montgomery Village, MD man is among eight people arrested in connection with an organized retail theft operation accused of stealing nearly $3 million in merchandise from Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other retailers across multiple states, according to authorities in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Noe Amilcar Umana-Espinal, 35, of Montgomery Village, was arrested alongside seven other Philadelphia residents. A warrant has also been issued for a ninth suspect from New York.
Investigators believe the group was responsible for hundreds of thefts starting in August 2025, targeting high-value items such as electrical wiring, flooring, and power equipment. The scheme apparently involved over 30 people and spanned Pennsylvania and at least 18 other states.
According to authorities, the suspects used stolen credit card accounts to purchase stuff and bogus paperwork to rent vehicles for moving stolen goods. Searches conducted in February 2026 yielded more than $560,000 in items and three stolen automobiles.
The defendants are charged with organized retail theft, conspiracy, access device fraud, theft, and receiving stolen items.
Multiple Pennsylvania law enforcement organizations were involved in the inquiry, as was the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland. The preliminary hearing is planned on November 19, 2026.
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