Sorry for the pics. but here is more of the story! - A true story.txt (1/1) 9072 Bytes

[P.A. Bakus]

This is posted as a community service to the business community. I believe the
following information should be helpful to you and will possibly prevent more people
from becoming victims of this "Crime Family."

Back in the late 70's, Charles Frederick Gooch d/b/a Bandit's Corner @1920 N. National
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. Mr. Simpson said Charles Gooch had taken jewelry worth $129,582.92 and had claimed it
had been stolen in a robbery in 1975-76.

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.

He's been robbed in Manhattan, Kansas (case # 74-8573 Riley County Police Department, he was the
chief suspect,) Jacksonville, Florida (Clay County Sheriff Dept. case #94003273-unfounded),
Hollywood, Florida (State Farm Insurance would not pay the $300,000.00+claim, too suspicious), New Jersey, etc.

He's never hurt but always loses everything, 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" for a good
return on their money a.k.a. Ponzi. Of course, he always claims afterwards that he was not the owner of the
business, as the women sign everything. The women file bankruptcy.

Charles and Douglas Gooch, it is alleged, haven't paid any Federal Taxes for years. They always do cash.
No bank accounts or credit cards you'll find on Charles and Doug.

Charles 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, got a document with Bill's signature and forged
it onto a document he presented in court.

Charles divorced his wife then he 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 and moved out during the night taking all the pawn items and vast amounts of
consignment items with them. One they stiffed was Global Rug Corp Inc. an N.Y. Corp 1-201-617-7600
(St Louis Store -Barrute Hakemian) out of over $22,000.00 on that one.

They next showed up in Sarasota Florida at 1545 Main Street running Royal Pawn. They took Paul Fisher,
one of the largest emerald dealers in the U.S. out of $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. He
let her. Of course, she never came back and the other woman left. REALLY BELIEVABLE, Right! Of course
they 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 got hijacked (case was unfounded by investigators) in Jacksonville, Florida. They were taking
goods to be auctioned in Charlotte, N.C. This occurred on January 14, 1994.

They then fled Florida to Louisiana and live at:
135 Berringer Road
Ponchatoula, Louisiana 70454
504-386-3391

Charles' son and his wife Patricia have now set up shop at:

Gooch's 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.


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 Byers name.(The me
NEVER sign any of the memos or any documents, the women do.) Vergie then filed bankruptcy when
they were found in Louisiana.

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 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 $3500.

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 Gooches will ask
if the owner wants to sell everything.They 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. 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!!

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 most of the time 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, should be considered friendly to the subjects.

This couple also said they had gotten an old cowboy hat, and had manysignatures placed on it to look like
it had been presented to John Wayne by his contemporaries. They then sold it at 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 Dunning's Auction House in Chicago. Charles loves to trade watches also. They usually
have $30,000.00+ in watches with them.

It has also been alleged that Vergie Vicknair Byers passed $50,000.00+ of bad checks in the late 80's around
Corpus Christi, Tex. I understand she may still be wanted on this. They also work the auctions in Texas. They
have connections in the New Orleans, La. area. All the pawn shops there know them.

The best thing you can do with this info. is to either contact a news organization to do an investigation or
circulate the following photos to all pawn and antique shops , 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 and pawn shop in the eastern U.S. because
that's where they operate. Two of them are always on the road.

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.

I have also included some mug shots of Charles Gooch and Vergie Byers.

Hope I have helped save someone else from being victimized by these people.

A Friend !!