3 in Metro Detroit Home Depot shoplifting ring charged

Three men accused of operating a shoplifting ring and stealing more than $7,000 in merchandise from Metro Detroit Home Depot stores have been charged, officials said.

Cody Richard Compton, 32, of Detroit; Michael John Florinchi, 30, also of Detroit; and James Albert Matica, 39, of Livonia have all been charged with organized retail crime and retail fraud, Canton Township police said Friday.

Compton was arraigned on March 2 in 35th District Court in Plymouth, according to court records. He was charged with a count of organized retail crime, a five-year felony, two counts of first-degree retail fraud, a five-year felony, and a count of being a habitual offender-fourth offense.

A judge set his bond at $50,000. A preliminary exam in his case was held Tuesday and Compton waived the hearing. The judge bound over his case to Wayne County Circuit Court for trial.

Florinchi was arraigned last Friday in the same court on two counts of first-degree retail fraud. A judge also set his bond at $50,000 and scheduled his next court appearance for March 22.

Finally, Matica was arraigned Thursday on charges in the same court. He has been charged with a count of organized retail crime, a count of first-degree retail fraud and a count of being a habitual offender-fourth offense.

A judge set his bond at $100,000 and scheduled his next court appearance for April 1.

Attorneys for Compton and Floinchi were not immediately available for comment Friday. No attorney for Matica was listed in the court records.

Police accuse the three in a string of thefts that happened in late February at Home Depot stores in Canton,Northville Township, and Taylor, officials said.

Canton police officers worked with their counterparts at the Northville Township Police Department on the investigation that led to the three defendants' arrests.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

X: @CharlesERamirez