St. Louis, MO - The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that three area women entered guilty pleas involving their involvements in hiding and transporting money from the August 2010 armed robbery of ATM Solutions.

According to court documents, shortly after the robbery of ATM Solutions, Candi Goodson went to the home of Cathy Goodson with Latunya Wright in a truck containing some of the stolen money. Wright did not tell them the money was from the robbery, but they all assumed that it was. Cathy Goodson agreed to store the money at her house for a couple of days. A few days later they returned with James Wright and Annkesha Welch to Cathy Goodson’s house to count and repackage the money with the intent to further conceal the stolen money. Candi Goodson and Welch were promised $3000 each for their assistance. The money was counted and placed in bundles of $20,000 in freezer bags and placed in a storage container. Wright had the money taken to Texas and buried. Wright, Welch and Candi Goodson drove to Texas and then to Atlanta, GA, with the stolen money where it was hidden in a storage locker. It was later recovered by the FBI. When interviewed by the FBI, Cathy Goodson lied to them about her involvement.

ANNKESHA WELCH, St. Louis, MO, pled guilty to one felony count of transportation of stolen property; CANDI GOODSON, pled guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to transport stolen property. CATHY GOODSON, pled guilty to one felony count of lying to a federal agent. All three appeared before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton. Sentencings have been set for March 30, 2012.

Co-defendant Yolanda Willis pled guilty in November to making false statements to the FBI about her assistance in the packaging and concealment of the money. Her sentencing is scheduled for January 27, 2012.

Transportation of stolen property carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; the conspiracy count carries a maximum of five years prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Lying to a federal agent carries a maximum penalty of five years prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Mehan is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.