FORMER SPENCER POSTAL CLERK PLEADS GUILTY - Participated In Postal Truck Hold-Ups

(07/24/2003)
A former clerk at the Spencer post office who was found guilty of stealing food stamps, is in much greater legal trouble.

David L. Banks, Jr., 33, of Charleston, has now pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery of two postal trucks.

Banks had been caught in a sting operation at the Spencer post office, after several residents complained about not receiving their food stamps.

Another man, James Lynch, 36, of South Charleston pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery.

Banks was the culprit in the July 3, 1998 armed robbery of a postal truck parked at the Sissonville post office. Banks and his companion took more than $30,000 in cash in that episode.

Both men reportedly took $50,000 from another postal truck at Sissonville on Feb. 3, 2000.

Banks faces up to 50 years in prison.

Prosecutors said the robberies were planned by Keith A. Lilly of Pinch, who pleaded guilty to two charges of armed robbery in June.