Somerset man sentenced to 50 years for role in Morris County armed robbery

Lucas Frau, NorthJersey.com
·2 min read

A Somerset man was sentenced to 50 years in state prison for his role in an armed robbery of a high-end luxury car rental business in Riverdale and tampering with a witness, Morris County officials stated on Tuesday.

Melvin Banks, 37, was found guilty of being the getaway driver in an armed robbery where $100,000 in jewelry and cellphones were stolen from the victim, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

On Dec. 4, 2021, Banks was scheduled to return a rented Mercedes S580 to the victim and coordinated its return for9 p.m. that same evening in Riverdale. A half-hour after the scheduled return, the victim was instead robbed at gunpoint by co-defendant Daniel Lind, according to the prosecutor's office.

Lind fled the scene with Banks who was waiting in a rented vehicle, the prosecutor's office stated.

Evidence against the defendants were compiled through surveillance footage of them purchasing black gloves and cable ties at a local Home Depot hours before the robbery, and then headed towards the scene of the robbery to await the victim’s arrival.

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An investigation by the crime by Riverdale police also revealed Banks sent messages threatening harm to the victim and the victim’s family if the victim did not drop the charges, officials said.

Banks was found guilty in February of first-degree armed robbery; one count of second-degree conspiracy; third-degree theft of a motor vehicle and first-degree witness tampering.

Lind pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and was sentenced to eight years in state prison.

Agencies that participated in the investigation were Riverdale Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office General Investigation Unit.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Morris County NJ armed robbery suspect gets 50 years