Another Caught in Home Depot Kickback

Atlanta, GA, May 15, 2009--Melissa Deaton Tesvich, the former wife of Anthony Tesvich, alleged mastermind of a flooring kickback scheme at Home Depot, pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return, which is a felony, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta said.

Anthony Tesvich, a former highly paid Home Depot flooring buyer, pleaded guilty last year in federal court in Atlanta to four crimes, including tax evasion and fraud.

The couple underreported their taxable income by $1 million and their U.S. taxes owed by about $387,000, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The tax return didn’t include income from overseas vendors that paid Anthony Tesvich to get their goods, mostly flooring products, into Home Depot stores.

Tesvich was fired from the company but went on to ensnare other headquarters managers in a scheme.

He gave several product buyers kickbacks in exchange for carrying the vendors’ products. The scheme generated millions of dollars for the Tesvich family.

Two others have already been sentenced in this case. Tesvich’s sentencing is scheduled for June 11. His ex-wife’s sentencing is set for Aug. 3.

Melissa Tesvich faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.