Ex-Home Depot Worker Sentenced In Kickback Scheme

Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a prison term of at least 10 years before Story gave Tesvich credit for his assistance to federal authorities.

He pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of tax evasion.

Prosecutors said Tesvich evaded taxes on illicit income totaling $1.5 million from 2003 through 2005.

Tesvich continued serving the foreign vendors even after he left Home Depot, giving substantial cash payments to his co-conspirators still with the company. The payoffs totaled more than $2.5 million, and one co-conspirator got a luxury SUV from Tesvich, prosecutors said.