CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — A local man was sentenced for committing bank robbery, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in order to get pandemic relief loans.
Spenc’r Denard Rickerson was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $87,583 in restitution.
PREVIOUS STORIES:
- Surveillance images released of man who robbed bank in downtown Newton
- Local man in federal custody accused of using fake company to get thousands in COVID-19 relief loans
According to court documents and evidence from the trial, between June 30, 2020, and March 20, 2021, Rickerson fraudulently applied for loans granted by the U.S. Small Business Administration to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, Rickerson received more than $84,233 in fraudulent funds.
In addition, court documents show that on March 18, 2021, Rickerson committed an armed robbery of the BB&T bank branch at 12 North Main Avenue, in Newton. Along with the loan money, he used the stolen funds to pay bills and to buy cryptocurrency.
Rickerson is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons.
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