DAYTON — A Dayton man pleaded guilty Friday, Oct. 24, to leading a conspiracy that made and placed fraudulent Universal Product Code labels used to steal more than $1 million in merchandise.

Tommy Joe Tidwell, 35, was one of four people indicted in U.S. District Court on July 9 in connection with the alleged scam.

In a statement of facts filed with Tidwell's plea, he admitted that, during one year, he and others conspired to steal more than $1 million in merchandise from large retailers and sell the items through eBay. The targeted merchandise included high-end vacuum cleaners, electric welders, power winches, personal computers, and electric generators.

Tidwell created fraudulent UPC labels on his home personal computer. Conspirators entered various stores in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Texas and placed the fraudulent labels on merchandise they targeted, and then bought the items from the store. The fraudulent UPC labels attached to the merchandise would cause the item to be rung up for a price far below its actual retail value.

FBI agents and Huber Heights Police officers seized computers and stolen merchandise bearing the fraudulent labels when they executed a search warrant at Tidwell's house and arrested him June 17. Tidwell has been in custody since his arrest, according to Gregory G. Lockhart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.

Tidwell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use unauthorized access devices, punishable by up to five years imprisonment; one count of use of unauthorized access devices, punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment, and one count of mail and wire fraud, punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.

U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose scheduled Tidwell's sentencing hearing for Jan. 23.

David J. Lombardo, 44, who was indicted along with Tidwell, pleaded guilty on Sept. 19 to one count of conspiracy to use unauthorized access devices and one count of use of unauthorized access devices. Charges are pending against David A. Detrick, age 30, and Telisha Davis, age 28, who were named in the indictment with Tidwell.

Lockhart commended the joint investigation by FBI agents and Huber Heights police officers, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight Keller, who prosecuted the case.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2057 or lgrieco@DaytonDailyNews.com.