Home Depot Employee Arrested at Airport While Trying to Leave After Allegedly Stealing AC Unit and Blower

ST.  CROIX — A Home Depot employee has been charged with multiple offenses including grand larceny and embezzlement, following an investigation by the V.I. Police Department’s Economic Crimes Unit.

According to VIPD Director of Communications Glen Dratte, 50-year-old Daniel Ramos was arrested on Wednesday at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport while attempting to leave the island. Customs and Border Protection agents detained Ramos and transferred him to detectives from the VIPD’s Economic Crimes Unit, where he was arrested without incident at approximately 4:59 p.m.

The charges stem from an investigation that began on January 17, 2025, after reports of missing merchandise from the Home Depot location on St. Croix. Detectives say Ramos, while on duty as a Home Depot employee, was involved in two separate thefts of store merchandise.

The first incident allegedly occurred on December 26, 2024, when Ramos was observed taking an air conditioning unit out of the store and placing it into a black Denali truck. No purchase for the unit was recorded.

The second incident took place on January 28, 2025, according to the investigation. Detectives allege that Ramos removed a Red Milwaukee blower and placed it into a dark-colored Infiniti SUV. In both cases, neither Ramos nor the unidentified individual accompanying him paid for the items, resulting in a total loss of $958.00 to The Home Depot.

Ramos was formally charged with grand larceny, embezzlement by employee, and conspiracy. Following his arrest, he was transported to the Wilbur H. Francis Police Operation Building in Frederiksted, where he was processed and booked.

Bail was set at $35,000.00 by Judge Vernita Velasquez, and Ramos was allowed to post 10 percent of the amount. He was released pending his Advice of Rights hearing, scheduled for Thursday.

The investigation remains active, and it is unclear whether any additional suspects will be identified in connection with the alleged thefts.