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Covington Today
By the People, for the People
Ex-Home Depot Worker Sentenced in $4M Gift Card Scam
Felecia Ingram stole and activated over 8,000 gift cards while working at the company's store support center.
Published on Feb. 26, 2026
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A former Home Depot employee has been sentenced to over 3 years in federal prison for stealing more than $4 million in gift cards from the company. Felecia Ingram, 53, of Covington, Georgia, used her access credentials to steal the cards and then activate them using false orders, before selling them on the black market to fund her gambling.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing threat of insider theft and fraud, especially during times of reduced staffing and oversight like the COVID-19 pandemic. It also underscores the need for robust inventory controls and security measures at large retailers to prevent such large-scale thefts from occurring.
The details
Prosecutors say that between March 2020 and July 2021, Ingram stole over 8,000 physical gift cards from The Home Depot's Store Support Center while fewer employees were onsite due to the pandemic. She then used her network credentials to activate the stolen cards by creating false orders, making it appear they were intended for corporate events and legitimate business purposes. Ingram later deleted those orders to conceal the scheme and sold the activated cards on the black market.
- Ingram worked as a gift card sales associate at Home Depot beginning in 2008.
- The theft and fraud occurred between March 2020 and July 2021.
- Ingram pleaded guilty to access device fraud on May 1, 2025.
- She was sentenced on February 26, 2026 to 3 years and 1 month in prison.
The players
Felecia Ingram
A 53-year-old former Home Depot employee from Covington, Georgia who was sentenced to over 3 years in federal prison for stealing more than $4 million in gift cards from the company.
The Home Depot
A large home improvement retailer that discovered the fraud after identifying discrepancies in its gift card ledger balances.
U.S. Secret Service
The federal law enforcement agency that investigated the case along with assistance from The Home Depot.
Stephen H. McClain
The Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case.
Thomas W. Thrash Jr.
The Senior U.S. District Judge who sentenced Felecia Ingram to prison.
What’s next
The judge ordered Ingram to pay nearly $4 million in restitution to The Home Depot in addition to her prison sentence.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing threat of insider theft and fraud at large retailers, and the importance of strong inventory controls and security measures to prevent such large-scale thefts, especially during times of reduced staffing and oversight.
