Jury charges six with armed robbery
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on October 6, 2004 1:58 PM
Six men have been indicted by the Wayne County Grand Jury on charges of armed robbery.
Two men were indicted on nine felony counts after they were arrested June 12 in connection with a home invasion in the 3300 block of U.S. 13 North.
Wayne County sheriff's detectives said that when the two residents returned home, a gun-wielding intruder pulled them inside, where they saw a young couple bound with duct tape. The suspect also tied up the two residents.
The robbers then stole a sport utility vehicle, a van, jewelry, cash, a camera, a compact disc player, about 110 CDs, video-game equipment and two cell phones, the report said. After they fled, the victims freed themselves and called authorities.
Goldsboro police were notified of the robbery and later investigated calls of suspicious activity around the two stolen vehicles. The occupants in the SUV were arrested on North Berkeley Boulevard, but the occupants in the van had fled from N.C. 111 South by the time officers arrived.
Jose Hector Sierra, 25, of Legion Road, LaGrange, and Walter A. Ruiz, 22, of New Hope Road, LaGrange, were arrested and turned over to sheriff's officers.
Sierra and Ruiz were indicted on four counts of first-degree kidnapping with use of a firearm, two counts of armed robbery and attempted armed robbery and one count of second-degree burglary.
The other two suspects have not been caught.
Three men from Wilson have been indicted on two armed-robbery charges. Carlos Antonio Ramos, 31, Felix Hernandez, 29, and Omar Antonio Venegas, 23, were arrested June 24 after a holdup at N.C. 111 and N.C. 55.
The victims had called authorities about the robbery. When deputies responded, they broadcast a description of the suspects and their vehicle. Later, Sheriff's Sgt. Carter Hicks stopped a vehicle matching the description on U.S. 117 South and found about $900 on the three men. The suspects were identified, charged and jailed.
The sixth man, Derontae T. Lee, 19, of Central Heights Road, was indicted for the July 24 robbery of Prince Tire Co. at 1011 S. George St.
Lee was accused of approaching an employee, displaying a handgun, demanding money, stealing $2,400 and fleeing in a car, police said. He was arrested later that day.