A correction ran on this article in print. Due to misinformation provided by John Edward Rego, it incorrectly stated the size of his take from gold and silver he had refined for a group of Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. employees alleged to have stolen the metal. Rego received between 1 percent and 3 percent of the total value of the metals.
Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. has sued some former employees and their associates, accusing them of stealing more than $3 million in unprocessed gold and silver over 11 years.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Denver early this month follows the arrest last September of three of the employees on felony charges related to the allegations.
A total of five former employees were involved in the alleged scheme, which involved diverting a line carrying gold- and silver-bearing fluid to a homemade recovery filter.
Daniel Blake Parsons, John Hurtt and Peter Quammen were arrested and face felony theft charges in the case. The lawsuit also claims former employees Michael Goss, Brian Moores, and Goss’ wife, Shasta, were involved. None could be reached for comment.
With Shasta Goss’ help, the group allegedly shipped the stolen metals to John Edward Rego and his companies Regold and Auto Wrench in California, all of whom are defendants in the suit.
“I don’t know why they assume that I know the things were stolen. It is totally erroneous. I receive a product, I get it refined, I pay them for it. I don’t know where it came from or how it got here. My total take on the thing is 1 percent,” Rego said Friday.
The suit is filed under the 1970 Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO, which was created to prosecute mobsters.
Staff writer Tom McGhee can be reached at 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com.
A correction ran on this article in print. Due to misinformation provided by John Edward Rego, it incorrectly stated the size of his take from gold and silver he had refined for a group of Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. employees alleged to have stolen the metal. Rego received between 1 percent and 3 percent of the total value of the metals.
