Litigious ex-con denied bond over claimed sex-ad post giving FBI agent's phone number
After being in prison and on probation for the past decade, convicted con man Frederick Banks had a taste of freedom this summer. But it didn’t last long.
Known for his prolific federal court litigation, determined by a magistrate to include more than 300 meritless suits between 2004 and 2013, Banks apparently may have tried a new tactic in order to get back at an FBI agent who helped put him in prison, according to the Associated Press and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
In a Craigslist post, Banks sought sex partners for the FBI agent, identified in the case as “TP,” providing the agent’s name, address and phone number in Florida, authorities allege. Banks was indicted, initially under seal, for interstate stalking. This week he was ordered held until trial in the Western District of Pennsylvania case, as a security risk, in part due to his litigious history.
“I find defendant is a serious threat to the safety of TP, and family, and potentially others with whom the defendant has legal disputes,” wrote U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Pesto.
It isn’t clear from news coverage how Banks got hold of the FBI agent’s contact information in Florida. TP was stationed in Pittsburgh when he worked on Banks’ case.
An attorney for Banks could not immediately be reached Wednesday for comment, the AP article says.
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “Bizarre Madoff motion appears to be a forgery; judge denies request”
