Frequent bank robber gets 21 years

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, September 22, 2004

CINCINNATI – A man who robbed 43 banks in six states was sentenced Wednesday to 21 years in prison.

David Brankle, who stole $175,141 during the nearly two-year spree, said he robbed the banks to support his son and the boy’s mother. He had no prior criminal record.

“I went in to get the money, and that was it,” Brankle, 47, said at his sentencing in federal court.

Federal authorities could not recall a more prolific solo bank bandit, prosecutor Terry Lehmann said. Brankle admitted robbing banks in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Florida between April 2002 and December 2003.

Brankle said Wednesday he was armed only with a can of Mace.