Union chief admits to bank robbery
Published 9:00 pm Friday, August 10, 2001
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — The president of the air traffic controllers’ union at the San Francisco airport admitted in an affidavit Friday that he was the so-called "Robust Robber" suspected of robbing up to nine banks, his lawyer said.
"He’s blown it," attorney Randy Pollock said. "He’s lost his job. He’s lost his career."
Rick Davis, 43, who earned about $120,000 a year, allegedly told detectives he robbed banks to fly his children to and from Hawaii to visit him and to pay child support.
He was charged with bank robbery on Tuesday after his arrest in Concord on Aug. 3. Authorities said an off-duty police officer noticed Davis handing a note to a teller at a Bank of America branch. The robber left the bank with $3,199, but was arrested shortly afterward.
The nickname "Robust Robber" came from the thief’s stocky build. Davis is heavyset and 5 feet 7 inches tall.
Davis has been an employee of the Federal Aviation Administration since 1986. He worked in Hawaii before moving to San Francisco, where he represents the tower’s 50 FAA employees with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
The FBI alleges Davis has robbed nine banks since Oct. 17, 2000, with the first eight in Fremont, Newark and Union City. About $60,000 was stolen from the banks and other charges were expected.
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