A local man has pleaded guilty to making false statements to investigators about his involvement in a check-cashing operation that amassed nearly $1.4 million over a two-month period at his Warsaw business.

In another case, a Raleigh teen has been convicted in an armed robbery earlier this year at Andy’s in Faison.

In the first case, Fernan Sanchez, 41, of Warsaw pleaded guilty to making material false statements. According to a plea agreement, Sanchez has agreed to forfeit $214,500, he received in criminal proceeds as a result of the check-cashing operation. He will be sentenced at a later date.

A criminal information was filed by the United States Attorney’s Office on Sept. 29, 2009. Sanchez pleaded guilty last week.

During the investigation, law enforcement determined that 120 tobacco checks were cashed totaling $1,385,001.29 between August 2007 and October 2007 at El Mariachi Gordo, a registered money services business in Warsaw owned and operated by Sanchez. The checks were issued by Universal Leaf North America, a tobacco manufacturer in Nashville, N.C., and made payable to various nominee names.

On Oct. 14, 2008, officers interviewed Sanchez regarding the tobacco checks. He falsely claimed that he saw each payee on the check and verified their identifications. However, Sanchez had received all of the checks from one person.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture - Office of the Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations. This case is being handled by the Office’s Economic Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan represented the government.

The maximum penalty for the false statements charge is up to five years imprisonment followed by up to three years supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

Teen convicted in local Andy’s robbery

Earlier this month, Jamar Marquez Goodman, 18, of 8716 Neuse Village Court, Raleigh, was convicted by a Duplin County jury of robbery with a dangerous weapon. The honorable Russell J. Lanier Jr. sentenced the defendant to a mitigated sentence of 45 to 65 months in the N.C. Department of Corrections.

Over an objection by the state, represented by assistant district attorney Bob Roupe, the judge gave the defendant $50,000 appeal bond allowing the defendant to be released upon posting that bond pending his appeal.

According to the facts of the case, a 911 call came in to Duplin County dispatch at 9:38 p.m. May 21 that the Andy’s in Faison had been robbed. The robber, wearing all black and armed with a gun, fled out the back door toward Cousin Fannie Road, which runs behind Andy’s.

Duplin sheriff’s deputy Kevin Ryan, who was on U.S. 117 near Calypso, knew that Duplin Sheriff’s Office Capt. Tim Jones was working security at the Piggly Wiggly in Faison and, therefore, was very close to the robbery. Ryan called Jones and told him about the robbery call.

Jones testified that, as a 22-year resident of Faison, he knew that the defendant would almost certainly have to leave Faison on either U.S. 117 or N.C. 403. As he knew Ryan was coming on U.S. 117, Jones jumped in his vehicle and headed toward Main Street (N.C. 403) in an attempt to stop the robber.

Upon approaching Fletcher Street, Jones observed a black Ford Ranger coming toward Main Street. Noting that the driver appeared to be consistent with the description of the robber, and that a passenger was reclined in the passenger seat, Jones stopped the vehicle to investigate. The stop was made at 9:41 p.m., just three minutes after the call was dispatched.

When Jones approached the vehicle, he shined his flashlight into it and saw Goodman, who was wearing all black and sweating profusely. He also saw money scattered behind the pasenger seat. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of $583.86, a silver 9mm Ruger, loaded with 12 hollow point bullets, under the passenger seat, along with gloves, masks, hooded jackets and a bandana.

According to investigators, the defendant also had large white sunglasses in his shirt pocket that matched the description given by the victim of ones worn by the robber.

The victim testified in court that he was at the back door gettinng a mop bucket when the robber appeared, armed with a silver pistol. The defendant pulled back the slide on the gun, pointed it at the back of the victim’s head and demanded money from the business’ safe.

Money in hand, the robber fled out the back door.

Later, when questioned about the case, the defendant acknowledged his participation.

“The jury in this case sent a message that this sort of violent conduct is unacceptable,” said District Attorney Dewey Hudson in a prepared statement. “Deputy Kevin Ryan and Captain Tim Jones are to be commended for their quick action in this case resulting in the apprehension of Goodman.”

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.