Spenc’r Denard Rickerson of Claremont was sentenced this week to six years in prison and two years of supervised release for committing bank robbery, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The 36-year-old was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $87,583. According to court documents, Rickerson used false information to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan and multiple Economic Injury Disaster Loans. As a result of the fraudulent loan applications, Rickerson received more than $84,233 in funds intended to assist businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to the fraudulent loan scheme,
Rickerson committed an armed robbery of a BB&T branch in Newton on March 18, 2021. Rickerson is in federal custody and will be transferred to a federal prison. The FBI investigated the case with the assistance of the Newton Police Department.
