Authorities: Local pawn shop owner netted with help of informant

ONECO — Detectives began to build a case against a pawn shop owner after he posted bail for a person in hopes of getting stolen goods to sell at his business, according to an search warrant made public Friday.

Unbeknownst to him, that person was a confidential informant.

Mark G. Goodman, 51, of Bradenton, posted a $20,000 bond after he was arrested on charges of trafficking in stolen property and grand theft Thursday at his business, 15th Street Pawn and DWG Motors, when Manatee County Sheriff’s Office investigators executed a search warrant.

Goodman couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.

Sheriff’s detectives began investigating Goodman after a person was arrested on a petit theft charge July 12 and wanted to work with investigators as a informant.

In a ruse, the informant told Goodman he or she could deliver gold coins, valued at $30,000 to $40,000, if Goodman posted his or her bond. Goodman made arrangements and the informant was bailed out of jail earlier this month.

The informant, who never stole any gold coins, used 87 grams of gold jewelry from sheriff’s office property to give Goodman in exchange for $855.

The pawn shop at 5712 15th St. E. has been registered with the Florida Division of Consumer Services Bureau of Investigation, which regulates pawn shops, since January 2009, said Terry McElroy, a division spokesman.

Bureau investigators worked with detectives during the probe and amounted multiple violations to cite Goodman that could result in a fine of up to $5,000 per violation.

“There were multiple violations involving failing to accurately report on the pawn tickets and the nature of the merchandise,” McElroy said.

Investigators also documented several other scenarios with the informant’s help showing Goodman knowingly took stolen items.

Goodman asked the informant to get a list of items for him through check writing, according to the warrant.

The informant in the past — with Goodman’s knowledge — would get a homeless person to open an account and write up to $10,000 in bad checks, the warrant stated.

Among the items Goodman wanted was a Craftsman wrench set valued at $199. Goodman told the informant he would give him or her one-third of the proceeds from the sale of the set through the pawn shop, according to the warrant.

A tool set was provided to the informant to give to Goodman and an undercover detective purchased the tool set at the pawn shop for $250, verifying it was the same set by reading the serial numbers, according to the warrant.

The informant also sold numerous tools in exchange for cash, and Goodman never filled out any pawn slips. An undercover detective bid on the items and purchased them on eBay.

Among the items seized Thursday were guns and tools, the warrant stated.

There are 1,229 pawn shops statewide, McElroy said, and 15th Street Pawn is one of 19 in Manatee.

There are only seven to eight investigators statewide for the bureau responsible for periodically checking pawn shops, as well other types of businesses, including telemarketing stations and auto repair shops.

15th Street Pawn was never previously reviewed by state investigators, McElroy said.

Aside from sweeps, state inspectors also review pawn shops if there is a complaint.

There are no complaints on file for 15th Street Pawn, he said.

The sheriff’s office investigation continues with more arrests expected.