ATLANTA -- Anthony M. Tesvich, 42, of Atlanta, was charged Thursday with three counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud against Home Depot.

The charges were relating to a kickback scheme from vendors.

Tesvich made his initial court appearance today.

Tesvich was accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in payoffs from Home Depot vendors, and he allegedly did not report or pay taxes on that income.

According to information presented in court, from Oct. 2002 to Oct. 2007, Tesvich allegedly took kickbacks from vendors seeking to do business with Home Depot, paying kickbacks to fellow employees to further that scheme.

He allegedly took payoffs from foreign vendors and suppliers to ensure those vendors' products were chosen for inclusion in the company's stores throughout the country.

Even after he left the company, Tesvich allegedly gave substantial cash payments, which he called 'french fries' and 'milkshakes', to co-conspirator employees at Home Depot.

"Participating in a kickback scheme like this cheats the competitive process," said Thomas O. Barnett, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department's Antitrust Division in Washington, D.C. "The Antitrust Division will vigorously prosecute those who engage in this kind of conspiracy."

One alleged co-conspirator also received a luxury SUV from Tesvich.

Home Depot cooperated with the investigation.