FAA Controller Accused of Bank Robbery
The president of the air traffic controllers’ union at San Francisco International Airport admitted in an affidavit that he was involved in a string of bank robberies, his attorney said.
Authorities say the robberies were the work of the “Robust Robber,” who is suspected of robbing up to nine banks of a total of about $60,000. “He’s blown it,” his attorney, Randy Sue Pollock, said.
Rick Lee Davis, 43, of San Francisco, allegedly told detectives he robbed banks to fly his children to and from Hawaii to visit him and to pay child support.
Davis was charged Tuesday with one bank robbery stemming from his arrest in Concord on Aug. 3. A federal judge set bail Friday at $150,000.
The nickname “Robust Robber” came from the thief’s stocky build. Davis is heavyset and 5-foot-7.
Davis has been an FAA employee since 1986. He represents the tower’s 50 FAA employees with the National Air Traffic Controllers Assn.
The FBI alleges Davis has robbed nine banks since Oct. 17. About $60,000 was stolen from the banks in total.
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