Tuesday, January 23, 2007

The drug dealers made him do it?

WCNC reported about a Charlotte man who pled guilty to robbing a bank today. James Fairley admitted to robbing a Wachovia branch in the 9000 block of Albemarle Road in June of 2006.

Prosecutors said he was coerced into doing it by drug dealers. Police said drug dealers told him to come up with more money and told him if he didn’t rob the bank, they would kill him and his family.

The note Fairley passed during the bank robbery said, "You have 18 seconds to give me $600 or I am going to die. This is a bank robbery."

Prosecutors said Fairley will still spend time in jail but they expect a lighter sentence due to the circumstances.

* View Criminal Complaint filed with the US District Court.