Gerrell Banks, 28, pled no contest today to one count of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Conspiracy (R.I.C.O. Conspiracy) and was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation on that charge. Today Banks was also sentenced for charges incurred for a crime committed while he was incarcerated in the Lee County Jail during the pendency of his R.I.C.O. Conspiracy case.
The defendant, along with three other men, beat an inmate with a broom handle and robbed him of his canteen money. For these crimes, Banks plead no contest to one count each of Robbery with a Weapon and Battery on a Detainee. He was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for the robbery, followed by 5 years of probation. He was also sentenced to 5 years in prison for the battery, followed by 5 years of probation. These sentences are to be served concurrent to the sentence for the R.I.C.O. Conspiracy case.
The evidence established that Banks was one in a group of individuals known as the Lake Boyz, a criminal street gang based primarily in Fort Myers. During a post-miranda interview Banks also admitted to being a member of the Lake Boyz. The R.I.C.O. Conspiracy charge acknowledges the intention to commit crimes through the group association.
The evidence in the case disclosed multiple crimes committed by the individual gang members in various and different roles including drug sale and distribution, burglary, auto theft, and homicide.
This prosecution is part of a joint task force created by State Attorney Amira Fox that is a law enforcement partnership comprised of members of the State Attorney’s Office, FBI, Fort Myers Police Department, and Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Specially Appointed Assistant State Attorney Bob Lee, Assistant State Attorney Leena Marcos,
and Assistant State Attorney J.D. Miller handled the R.I.C.O. Conspiracy case. Assistant State
Attorney Christine Cummins handled the case involving the crimes committed in jail.
There are 9 Lake Boyz defendants pending prosecution.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
ssyoen@sao20.org
239-533-1125