If you know them, please e-mail me. - Antique Warning.txt (1/1) 11556 Bytes
lcandbat
Why don't you contact "America's Most Wanted". They do fraud cases.
Jay wrote:
> Photos of two of the individuals available upon request to
> jf...@hotmail.com
>
>
> This is a true story!
>
> I am one of their victims. I lost EVERYTHING to them. Since I was retired at the time,
> it ruined my life. The problem for them is they took the wrong person this time.
>
> I've personally spent every waking moment tracking them since.
>
> Through MY PERSONAL investigation I have put together what follows.
>
> I certainly believe these people qualify for running "a continuing criminal enterprise" which
> would fall under the Federal Racketeering laws.
>
> It's these kind of people that ruin the business community and mankind. They must be brought
> to justice!!! I hope some of you help.
>
> I have included enough facts that can be verified. I have many other facts on them.
>
> Back in the late 70's, Charles Frederick Gooch and Barbara Gooch d/b/a Bandit's Corner
> Antiques at 1920 or 2005 North National St. in Springfield, Mo. He managed to stiff a lot
> of people in Springfield and as far away as Philadelphia.
>
> Mr. Steven Abraham (215-925-2712 or 215-925-2727) whose father was/is doing business
> as Simpsons’ Jewelry in Philadelphia, Pa. was a victim. Mr. Simpson said Charles Gooch had
> taken jewelry worth $129,582.92 on memo, then claimed it had been stolen in a robbery in 1975-76.
>
> Charles claims to have been robbed in Manhattan, Kansas (case # 74-8573 Riley County
> Police Department, he was the chief suspect according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation),
> in Jacksonville, Florida (Clay County Sheriff Dept. case #94003273-unfounded), in
> Hollywood, Florida (State Farm Insurance would not pay the $300,000.00+claim, too suspicious),
> and in Milford, Connecticut (told Bill McClure he had a flat tire, a man stopped to help him
> but instead robbed him of all Bill's gold coins which were the only items taken),etc.
>
> Charles and Barbara Gooch filed Bankruptcy # 79-30016-B-S January 23, 1979, granted
> Nov. 30, 1982 after Bill McClure, mentioned below, sued him.
>
> Charles presented a document in court that had the forged signature of Bill on it. Bill was
> able to prove same to the court. Charles had apparently gone to the courthouse, had gotten a
> document with Bill's signature, then forged it onto a document he presented in court.
>
> After Charles divorce from Barbara, Charles and his girlfriend, Vergie V.(Vicknair) Byers,
> opened: (license in her name)
>
> Goochs' Diamonds and Antiques (1984-87)
> 912 S. Glenstone
> Springfield, MO 65802
> 417-862-0740
>
> In 1987, they shut down the store and moved out during the night taking all the pawn items and
> vast amounts of consignment items with them. One they stiffed for consigned items was Global Rug
> Corp Inc. an N.Y. Corp 1-201-617-7600(St Louis Store -Barrute Hakemian). It amounted to
> over $22,000.00.
>
> They next showed up in Sarasota ,Florida at 1545 Main Street running Royal Pawn. There they took
> Paul Fisher, d/b/a Reshif Inc, one of the largest emerald dealers in the U.S., for $19,500 of
> jewelry on consignment.
>
> Douglas Blake Gooch, Charles son said two women came into the store. They looked at the jewelry,
> one women said she wanted to take it somewhere else to be appraised while the other woman
> remained.
>
> Douglas said he let her leave with all the jewelry. Of course, she never came back and the
> other woman left. REALLY BELIEVABLE, Right! Of course Gooch/Byers never filed a police report
> but the jewelry was gone.
>
> They next got over $1,000,000.00 of consignments on "MEMO" from Sarasota businesses. Charles
> and Vergie then claimed they were hijacked (case was unfounded by investigators) in
> Jacksonville, Florida. They claimed they were taking goods to be auctioned at Cape Horn Auction
> in Charlotte, N.C. This occurred on January 14, 1994. Sale was to be held January 16, 1994.
>
> They then fled Florida to Louisiana and still live at:
> 135 Berringer Road
> Ponchatoula, Louisiana 70454
> 504-386-3391
>
> Upon each robbery,Charles claims he's having heart problems so he doesn't have to talk to the
> police right away. Of course afterwards, he always claims that he was not the owner of
> the business,as the women signed everything. The women have left the area. This convolutes
> the process of investigating. The women then file bankruptcy if found.
>
> Gooch seems to be very unlucky as he is always being hijacked or robbed of other peoples
> merchandise and cash. Generally it amounts from $100,000.00 up to over $1,000,000.00.
> Charles and Douglas Gooch, it is alleged, haven't paid any Federal Taxes for years. They do lots
> of cash and have lots of it. No bank accounts or credit cards you'll find on Charles and Doug.
>
> Charles is never hurt but always loses everything belonging to someone else, usually to a man
> with a pistol. He's usually taking others merchandise to auctions, sales, etc. He also likes to
> get people to invest in his "businesses" (of course later he claims he didn't own it, he's only
> the manager) for a good return on their money a.k.a. Ponzi.
>
> Charles' son, Douglas Blake Gooch and his wife Patricia have now set up shop at:
>
> Goochs' Antique & Jewelry Exchange Missouri State Tax ID # 15846661
> 1325 S. Glenstone
> P.O. Box 314
> Ozark, Mo. 65721
> Springfield, Mo.
> Owner: Patty Gooch
> License issued on Oct. 1, 1995.
>
> Bldg-1321-31 S. Glenstone owned by Errett Sechler Jr. @ 1736 E. Sunshine St. S304,Springfield)
>
> Upon last check,they had never applied for a city tax I.D. or a business license. They're
> probably either doing pawn without a license or have a front man who has a license and
> are bankrolling him with cash and taking theirs at the back in cash. They did that in Sarasota.
>
> Their home is:
> Douglas Blake and Patricia (Hardebeck) Gooch
> 1341 E. Cozy Street,
> Springfield, Missouri, 65807
> 417-866-6791
>
> It is documented that the business is in Doug's wife's name. I'm sure that way when things
> get bad, she will file bankruptcy. That's the way the Sarasota store was set up also, in
> Vergie V.(Vicknair) Byers name. (The men NEVER sign any of the memos or any documents,the
> women do.) Vergie then filed bankruptcy when they were found in Louisiana. U.S. Bankruptcy
> Court-New Orleans, case # 94-13675.
>
> There is a sworn statement that was taken by the Sarasota Sheriff's office stating Charles Gooch
> told a witness what he was going to do to the dealers in Sarasota before it occurred. It included
> the bankruptcy in Louisiana. They do business this way because they stated they know it will be
> treated as a civil matter and the police won't investigate(they're right).
>
> While in Sarasota, Douglas Gooch asked a friend if he'd to go down to his boat and unplug the
> bilge pump at the dock. He said he wanted the boat to sink. The friend refused. Within the
> month, the boat sank because the pump apparently was not hooked up while at the dock.
> The insurance company paid him.
>
> They also stop into antique stores. They will pick out a few of the best items and offer to buy them
> for a very good price. Then,with the store owner thinking he has made a good deal, the Goochs'
> will ask if the owner wants to sell everything and agree on a good price. The Gooch/Byers Gang
> will pay the owner a small amount of the agreed on price. They will take all the best items
> from the store right then. They say they will be sending a truck in the next few days to pick
> up and pay for the rest. They never return.
>
> When the store owner finally, if ever, gets in contact with Charles, Vergie, or Doug, they will
> be told they already got all the items that were agreed upon. Of course, the money they gave the
> store owner is much less than the amount of goods they took. BUT, there is NO WAY for the shop
> owner to prove it!! Gooch/Byers have proof of a cashed check! No police investigation
> because it's CIVIL!!
>
> They also are known to pass off counterfeit Lalique and Tiffany items. They have signatures put
> on pieces that look like the real things. They mostly sell these through auctions because
> the items are not guaranteed that way. They've passed a number of these at an auction house in
> Wilson, N.C.
>
> This auction house is, Langston Auction Gallery, Highway 301 South, Wilson, N.C. 919-237-8224.
> Owner, Bobby Langston (Wilson?), should be considered friendly to the subjects.
>
> This couple also said they had gotten an old cowboy hat, and had many signatures placed on it to
> make it look as though it had been presented to John Wayne by his contemporaries. They then
> sold it through the auction house in Wilson, N.C.
>
> They said they heard it had been resold at an auction in Ohio to Gene Autrey, owner of the
> California Angels, for $25,500.00.
>
> They also said they'd sold three faked Lalique vases at the auction in Wilson, N.C. The vases
> were returned by the buyer in California because THE NAME HAD BEEN MISSPELLED. They had to
> return $6,000.00 on that one.
>
> They have also used Dunnings'’ Auction House up around Chicago, Elkins Auction House in
> Roanoke,Va., Adno Heller in Clearwater, Fl., Charlotte Motor Speedway, Charlotte, N.C.
> and others.
>
> It has been alleged that they move some hot items through an auction house in Huntington, W.V.
> Charles loves to trade watches also. They usually have $30,000.00+ in watches with them.
> Charles and Doug also had auctioneers' licenses in Springfield, Mo. until 1987.
>
> It has also been alleged that Vergie Vicknair Byers passed $50,000.00+ of bad checks in the
> late 80's around Corpus Christi, Texas. I understand she may still be wanted on this. They also
> attend auctions in Texas. They have connections in the New Orleans, La. area. All the jewelry
> stores know them.
>
> In fact, in July 1996, jewelry that was stolen in a Sarasota burglary earlier that year was found
> in 4 New Orleans jewelry stores. The jewelry owner said that the jewelry had been placed in a
> Texas auction by Charles Gooch and Vergie Byers. That’s were the New Orleans owner said he'd
> purchased it. But, he also said Charles and Vergie were old friends of his.
>
> The best thing you can do with this info. is either contact a news organization to do an
> investigation or circulate the following photos to all pawn, antique shops and jewelry stores,
> then set up a sting among the dealers and let the cops take these people down. They have ruined
> many lives and will continue to do the same.
>
> Their photos ought to be placed in every antique store, auction house, pawn shop and jewelry
> store in the eastern U.S. because that's where they operate. Two of them are always on the road. I understand
> it is now Charles and Doug. They were seen recently (Oct. 97) in a Detroit area jewelry store.
> The owner e-mailed me after an employee saw my post in a newsgroup.
>
> You may want to contact Bill McClure in Aurora, Mo. He knows a lot about them. He can be reached
> at (h) 417-678-3192 or 0017. He can also be reached at his restaurant at 417-466-4708.
>
> You probably want to contact Cecil Whitaker also, a Sarasota businessman. He can be reached
> at 941-955-0447.
>
> If you need or have additional info there is an honest law enforcement officer in Sarasota
> who worked very hard to get these people but to no avail. His name is Sarasota Sheriffs
> Detective Garry Ferguson. His work number is 941-364-4773. He is not aware this is being
> sent. I understand he will be retiring soon also.
>
> Hope I have helped save someone else from being victimized by these people.
>
> A Friend !!
>
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