Home Depot to Pay Nearly $2 Million to Resolve Civil Complaint Alleging Overcharging and False Advertising September 12, 2024 OAKLAND, CA — Today, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced that Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. entered into a stipulated judgment to pay $1,977,251 to settle a civil law enforcement complaint that alleged false advertising and unfair competition arising from overcharging customers. The civil action and stipulated judgment were filed in San Diego Superior Court. The Alameda County DA’s Office’s Consumer Justice Bureau joined the suit with the District Attorneys of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sonoma counties. The civil complaint filed by prosecutors alleged that Home Depot routinely charged customers prices higher than its lowest advertised or posted price. This problem, often called a “scanner violation,” occurs when the price on the item itself or on the shelf tag is not the same price…

Organized Retail Crime Alameda Unit Files Felony Charges Against Two Men for Stealing Over $100,000 in Merchandise from Home Depot September 9, 2024 OAKLAND, CA — Today, District Attorney Pamela Price announced her office charged Juan Manuel Diaz Ramirez (23) and Juan Manuel Diaz Tejeda (50) in connection with multiple organized retail theft-related crimes from Home Depot Stores in the cities of Hayward and Newark between December 14, 2022, and March 21, 2023. The losses incurred are worth over $100,000. The charges against Mr. Ramirez and Mr. Tejeda include multiple felony counts of embezzlement, commercial burglary, grand theft, and organized retail theft in concert. If convicted and sentenced on all charges, Mr. Ramirez faces a maximum of 7 years and Mr. Tejeda faces a maximum of 3 years and 8 months. “I am excited to see results from our Organized Retail Crime Alameda (ORCA) Vertical…

Jury Delivers Guilty Verdict in Violent Road Rage Hate Crime Assault on I-880 Freeway in Oakland September 5, 2024 OAKLAND, CA — Today, District Attorney Pamela Price announced that a jury found Tracy Robert Blackwell (62) guilty of one count of felony assault with a deadly weapon and a hate crime enhancement. Mr. Blackwell faces 7 years in prison. The testimony and facts presented at trial showed that on the afternoon of May 16, 2023, a mother with three children was driving on Hegenberger Road towards the southbound I-880 freeway onramp in Oakland. As the mother neared the onramp, Mr. Blackwell cut across all lanes traffic and pulled in front of her, nearly hitting her vehicle. The mother honked her horn at Mr. Blackwell. As the two cars proceeded to take the on-ramp onto the freeway, Mr. Blackwell began yelling the N-word and other obscenities…

Man Charged in Deadly Hit-and-Run Collision That Killed an Oakland Teenager and Injured Her Mother ­September 5, 2024 OAKLAND, CA — Today, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announces that Agusto Matias (37) has been charged with multiple felonies as the alleged driver in a deadly hit-and-run incident, killing a teenage girl and injuring her mother. Mr. Matias is charged with felony gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, D.U.I/alcohol causing injury, driving with a 0.8% blood alcohol causing injury, leaving the scene of an accident [Death/permanent serious injury], and misdemeanor hit-and-run driving and unlicensed driver. According to the complaint, the incident happened on or about August 19, 2024. It is alleged that Mr. Matias was fleeing the scene of a bumper-to-bumper collision on Havenscourt near International Blvd when he allegedly struck and killed one victim and injured a second victim. Both victims were in the crosswalk when the…