Trio Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in Home Improvement Store Scheme

Donovan Young, 60, of Hartsville, Aaron Young, 34, of Florence, and James Hoffman, 47, of McBee, have pled guilty to a wire fraud conspiracy related to defrauding a chain of home improvement stores. The investigation revealed that the trio purchased Lowe’s merchandise cards at discounted prices from coconspirators who had obtained the cards fraudulently. These coconspirators stole merchandise from the stores and then returned it using fake identities to receive the merchandise cards.

The guilty plea indicates that the Youngs and Hoffman were aware of the fraudulent origins of the merchandise cards. They now face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, along with a potential fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted their plea and will sentence them following the preparation of a sentencing report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Charleston Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower prosecuting.