Jeffrey Ryan Goodell, a man previously convicted of defrauding the Tacoma Rescue Mission, has been sentenced to 22 months in state prison for a theft scheme involving the illegal taking of pallets and construction materials from a Lakewood warehouse. Goodell, 43, pleaded guilty to six counts of first-degree theft, totaling at least $680,000 in stolen items, including pallets, which he sold as part of a fraudulent scheme between June and August 2021.
Goodell managed the warehouse and allegedly directed employees to disable security cameras, allowing him to steal and sell materials. He marketed the stolen goods on Craigslist as an “investment opportunity,” defrauding a customer who paid $203,000 to Goodell’s codefendant, Paul Vickers Jr. Vickers, who was also involved in the scheme, accepted stolen materials and funds in exchange for not reporting the thefts, ultimately receiving a deferred sentence for his role.
According to the investigation, Goodell altered inventory records and directed employees to move the stolen materials to various locations, including fenced lots in Lakewood and Edgewood. Several whistleblowers came forward, reporting that Goodell had threatened to fire them if they did not comply with his illegal activities. The stolen pallets, worth over $680,000, were later recovered during a company investigation.
In a previous conviction, Goodell was sentenced to four years in federal prison for bank fraud after stealing nearly $1.3 million from the Tacoma Rescue Mission. During Thursday’s sentencing, Goodell’s attorney recommended the 22-month sentence, which prosecutors agreed to. Goodell’s family expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence, calling it “pathetic” and advocating for a longer sentence.
Upon sentencing, Goodell, who was out of custody throughout the case, declined to speak to the court but expressed intentions to rebuild his life after serving his time.
