Man Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years After Pleading Guilty to Shoplifting, Violating Probation; Commonwealth’s Attorney Calls on Businesses to Take Steps to Help Protect Themselves

NORFOLK, Va. — Erik Jamaal Watford, 41, was sentenced to serve two years and 11 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to grand larceny and being in violation of probation when he attempted to steal multiple power tools from the Home Depot on Military Highway last year.

On Feb. 22, 2024, Mr. Watford entered the store, loaded a cart with more than $1,000-worth of power tools, and left the store without paying. The store’s loss prevention officer stopped Mr. Watford outside the store, recovered all the items, and contacted Norfolk Police, who charged Mr. Watford with felony grand larceny.

On April 16, 2025, Mr. Watford entered an agreement to plead guilty to grand larceny and face an active sentence of up to two years and five months in prison, which was within his state sentencing guidelines. Judge Robert B. Rigney accepted Mr. Watford’s plea agreement, found him guilty and, on June 27, sentenced Mr. Watford to serve two years and five months in prison with another two years and seven months suspended on the conditions that Mr. Watford be banned from Home Depot stores and be of uniform good behavior for two years following his release.

Mr. Watford’s conviction in this case caused him to be in violation of his probation from a prior case, and Mr. Watford pleaded guilty to being in violation. There was no agreement as to the sentence he would receive for his probation violation. Judge Rigney revoked six months of Mr. Watford’s previously suspended sentence, bringing Mr. Watford’s time to serve to two years and 11 months.

“I would like to express my appreciation to Home Depot and to the loss-prevention officers in this case,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Home Depot is one of the companies in this area who install the technology necessary to record shoplifters and who empowers its employees to stop and detain people who are shoplifting, greatly increasing the probability of an arrest and a criminal conviction.

“Reports to the police of shoplifting in Norfolk are down 22% in 2025, and, if other businesses would take the responsible and sensible steps to protect themselves that Home Depot has taken, then fewer shoplifters would get away, and more shoplifters would face justice. I encourage businesses to do so. Police and prosecutors cannot do this work alone.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Christina L. Brady prosecuted Mr. Watford’s case, and Norfolk Police Detective Kevin M. Rose led the investigation.

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April 18, 2025

Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Larceny of Power Tools from Home Depot in 2024

NORFOLK, Va. — Erik Jamaal Watford, 41, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to grand larceny after he shoplifted merchandise from the Home Depot last year.

On Feb. 22, 2024, Mr. Watford entered the Home Depot on North Military Highway, loaded a shopping cart with multiple power tools valued at $1,084, and walked out of the store with the tools without paying. The store’s loss prevention officer contacted Norfolk Police, stopped Mr. Watford outside, and recovered all the merchandise.

Theft of property worth $1,000 or more is a felony in Virginia. Pursuant to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office’s policy regarding thefts of property worth less than $2,500, the Office reviewed the case to determine whether a conviction for a misdemeanor larceny — which carries a possible jail sentence of 12 months — would best serve the public interest. Because of Mr. Watford’s extensive prior history of felony larceny convictions, the Commonwealth concluded that it was just and appropriate to proceed on this case as a felony.

On Wednesday, Mr. Watford pleaded guilty as charged to grand larceny and agreed to face an active sentence of up to two years and five months in prison. Judge Robert B. Rigney accepted Mr. Watford’s guilty plea and deferred convicting Mr. Watford, pending a review of Mr. Watford’s pre-sentence report on June 27.

“I would like to express my appreciation to the loss-prevention officer at Home Depot, who for many years has been a vital partner in detaining shoplifters, providing vital video evidence, and testifying in court,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “The businesses who have the greatest success in holding down shoplifting are the ones like Home Depot who devote resources to spotting shoplifters and who empower their staff to detain shoplifters until the police arrive. The police cannot arrest someone who gets away, and we cannot prosecute someone the police cannot arrest. Prevention is the best solution, and we succeed when we work on these cases together.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Christina L. Brady is prosecuting Mr. Watford’s case, and Norfolk Police Detective Kevin M. Rose led the investigation.

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