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'{{Infobox NFL player |name=Brian Banks |image=Brian Banks 1.jpg |caption= |birth_date={{birth date and age|1985|7|24}} |birth_place=[[Los Angeles County, California]], United States |death_date= |death_place= |height_ft=6 |height_in=3 |weight_lbs=250 |high_school=[[Long Beach Polytechnic High School|Long Beach Polytechnic]]<br>([[Long Beach, California]]) |college= None |undraftedyear=2007 <!-- four years from HS graduation --> |pastteams= * [[Las Vegas Locomotives]] ({{UFL Year|2012}}) * [[Atlanta Falcons]] ({{NFL Year|2013}})* |number=53 |position=[[Linebacker]] |pastteamsnote=yes |nflnew=brianbanks/2541108 }} '''Brian Banks''' (born July 24, 1985)<ref name="calindex"/> is a former [[American football]] [[linebacker]]. He signed with the [[Atlanta Falcons]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) on April 3, 2013.<ref name="a"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000236456/article/brian-banks-reportedly-released-by-atlanta-falcons |title=Brian Banks released by Atlanta Falcons |publisher=NFL.com |date=2013-08-30 |access-date=2015-04-10}}</ref> Banks previously signed as an undrafted free agent with the [[Las Vegas Locomotives]] of the [[United Football League (2009–12)|United Football League]] in 2012.<ref name="espn1"/><ref name="cbs1"/> Banks was a standout high school football star at [[Long Beach Polytechnic High School|Polytechnic High School]] (Poly) in [[Long Beach, California]]. In 2002, his Junior year, Banks verbally committed to [[USC Trojans football|USC]].<ref name="ap1"/> After being falsely accused of [[rape]] by classmate Wanetta Gibson, he spent close to six years wrongfully imprisoned and five years on a strict custody parole, but had his conviction overturned in 2012 after his accuser confessed that she had fabricated the entire story. Following his exoneration, Banks sought to resume his football career, playing for the now defunct United Football League (UFL), attending mini-camps for several NFL teams, and later signing with the Atlanta Falcons. ==High school career== A native of [[Long Beach, California]], Banks attended [[Long Beach Polytechnic High School]], where he was teammates with [[DeSean Jackson]], [[Darnell Bing]], [[Winston Justice]], and [[Marcedes Lewis]]. He was named one of [[Rivals.com]]'s "Juniors to Watch" of the class of 2003,<ref name="rivals1"/> before being expelled from school due to a rape accusation, later shown to be false. ==Professional career== In the summer of 2012, Banks received tryouts with several NFL teams, including the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], [[San Diego Chargers]], and [[San Francisco 49ers]]. He attended minicamp with the [[Seattle Seahawks]], whose head coach, [[Pete Carroll]], was the one who had offered Banks a scholarship in 2002 when he was the head coach at USC.<ref name="a" /><ref name="nbc1"/> ===Las Vegas Locomotives=== Banks signed with the [[Las Vegas Locomotives]] of the [[United Football League (2009)|UFL]] on September 20, 2012, appearing in two games and making one tackle before the UFL suspended its season in October.<ref name="seahawks1"/> ===Atlanta Falcons=== Banks signed with the [[Atlanta Falcons|Falcons]] on April 3, 2013, participating in Falcons offseason workouts, OTA's, and training camp. <ref name="cnn1"/> <ref name="b"/> Banks made his NFL debut in a preseason game against the [[Cincinnati Bengals]], where he picked up two tackles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Exonerated Football Player Brian Banks Back on the Gridiron After Five Years in Prison|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/brian-banks-back-field-best-moments-life/storynew?id=19931048|publisher=ABC News|accessdate=12 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="fan1"/> He played four preseason games with the Falcons before being released on August 30, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Patra|first=Kevin|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000236456/article/brian-banks-released-by-atlanta-falcons|title=Brian Banks released by Atlanta Falcons|publisher=[[National Football League]]|date=August 30, 2013|accessdate=August 30, 2013}}</ref> ===National Football League (NFL)=== [[File:Brian Banks 2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Brian Banks after his exoneration]] In 2014, Banks was asked by [[NFL Commissioner]] [[Roger Goodell]] to speak at the 2014 NFL draft Rookie Symposium. Banks accepted and his speech was well received. A few weeks later, he was hired to join the NFL Department of Operations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Exonerated of rape, Brian Banks now realizing NFL dream – in different capacity|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/exonerated-of-rape--brian-banks-realizing-nfl-dream-%E2%80%93-in-different-capacity-005927279-nfl.html|website=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|accessdate=27 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=BANKS' NFL DREAM LEADS TO LEAGUE OFFICE|url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Banks-NFL-Dream-Leads-to-League-Office/dc05bd84-aa0a-45e0-b5ee-c45adc4c49c0|website=[[Atlanta Falcons]]|accessdate=27 January 2015}}</ref> ==False accusation of sexual assault== In the summer of 2002, Banks was arrested and charged after classmate Wanetta Gibson [[false accusation of rape|falsely accused him]] of dragging her into a stairway at Polytechnic High School (Poly) and raping her. Faced with a possible 41 years to life sentence, he accepted a [[plea bargain|plea deal]] that included five years in prison, five years of probation, and [[Sex offender registries in the United States|registering as a sex offender]]. Wanetta Gibson and her mother Wanda Rhodes sued the [[Long Beach Unified School District]], claiming the Poly campus was not a safe environment, and won a $1.5 million settlement.<ref name="usa1"/><ref name="c"/> Banks says that the lawyer said that by pleading guilty he would receive probation, but no jail time.<ref name="Daily">{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/wrongfully-imprisoned-banks-career-nfl-article-1.2090727|title=Brian Banks spent five years in prison after being falsely accused of rape, but now he finally has a career in NFL|last=Myers|first=Gary|publisher=[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]]|accessdate=6 January 2018|date=2015-01-25}}</ref> ===Confession of false accusation=== In March 2011, Gibson contacted Banks on [[Facebook]], met with him, and admitted in the presence of an attorney that she had fabricated the story. Banks secretly recorded Gibson's confession, but she later refused to tell prosecutors that she had lied so she wouldn't have to return the money she and her family had won in court.<ref name="c" /> ===California Innocence Project=== Prior to the taped confession, Banks had asked for help from the [[California Innocence Project]] (CIP), a nonprofit law school clinic run by the San Diego-based law school [[California_Western_School_of_Law|California Western School of Law]] that investigates and litigates cases of [[Actual innocence|factual innocence]], but at that time there had not been sufficient evidence of Banks' innocence for them to take on the case. However, after the confession, CIP decided to make this the organization's first case involving a wrongfully convicted person who had already been released from prison.<ref name="c" /> The video evidence was not admissible in court, because the video had been made without Gibson's knowledge or consent and was not accompanied by a signed confession from the young woman. However, CIP was instrumental in putting together additional evidence supporting Banks’ story, which led the district attorney to dismiss all charges against him on May 24, 2012. He was also released from sex-offender status, allowing him to resume his aborted sports career.<ref name="Daily"/><ref name="Banks">{{cite web|title=Brian Banks|url=https://californiainnocenceproject.org/read-their-stories/brian-banks/|website=California Innocence Project|publisher=California Innocence Project|accessdate=6 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Koehler">{{cite web|last1=Koehler|first1=Francie|title=Exonerating the Innocent|url=https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/74656/exonerating-the-innocent|website=PI’s Declassified|publisher=VoiceAmerica|date=12 December 2013|accessdate=6 January 2018}}</ref> Banks supports CIP in its efforts on behalf of the wrongly-convicted, including participating in CIP's 2013 Innocence March.<ref name="march">{{cite web|last1=Cocca|first1=Christina|title=Brian Banks and His Mother Join "Innocence March" to Protest Wrongful Convictions|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Brian-Banks-and-mother-join-california-innocence-project-march-207055401.html|website=NBC-4 Los Angeles|publisher=NBC|date=11 May 2013|accessdate=6 January 2018}}</ref> He often wears a shirt with the lettering "XONR8" ("exonerate").<ref name="Daily"/><ref name="march"/> ===School lawsuit=== On April 12, 2013, the Long Beach Unified School District announced it was suing the ugly lying Wanetta Gibson for $2 million in an effort to recoup the $1.5 million she received, along with attorney's fees and [[punitive damages]].<ref name="nbc2"/> On June 14, 2013, the school district won a $2.6 million judgment against Gibson, which includes the $750,000 settlement initially paid to her along with attorney's fees, interest, and $1 million in punitive damages.<ref name="press"/><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.dailynews.com/2013/06/14/long-beach-unified-wins-judgment-against-accuser-in-false-rape-case-against-brian-banks/ |last=Mellen |first=Greg |title=Long Beach Unified wins judgment against accuser in false rape case against Brian Banks |publisher=Los Angeles Daily News |date=2018-06-14 |accessdate=2018-11-19}}</ref> Gibson has gone into hiding and failed to appear at all court dates. She was due a second $750,000 payment under terms of the original 2007 deal, which was cancelled.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/26/local/la-me-rape-dismissal-20120526 |title=Prosecution of false accuser in rape case seen as difficult |publisher=LA Times |date=2012-05-26 |accessdate=2018-11-19}}</ref> ==Film project== A feature film project based on Banks' story, co-executive produced by Banks himself and [[Justin Brooks]] of CIP, is currently filming.<ref name="Tiffany">{{cite news|last1=Lee|first1=Ashley|title=Tiffany Dupont Joins Greg Kinnear in Brian Banks Drama|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tiffany-dupont-joins-greg-kinnear-brian-banks-drama-exonerate-1043984|accessdate=6 January 2018|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=28 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="memphis">{{cite web|last1=Detling|first1=Dave|title=Brian Banks Movie Production Filming In Memphis, Seeks Football "Fans"|date=9 October 2017|url=http://www.localmemphis.com/news/local-news/brian-banks-movie-production-filming-in-memphis-seeks-football-fans/831562098|website=localmemphis.com (Channel 24)|publisher=Nexstar Media Group|accessdate=6 January 2018}}</ref> It is directed by [[Tom Shadyac]], the creator of such films as ''[[Bruce Almighty]]'' and ''[[Evan Almighty]]'', and features [[Aldis Hodge]] as Brian Banks, [[Greg Kinnear]] as Brooks and [[Tiffany Dupont]] as CIP attorney [[Alissa Bjerkhoel]].<ref name="Tiffany"/> The movie was to be released sometime in 2018 but has not yet been released.<ref name="memphis"/> In January 2018 Banks joined the Oxygen channel's series "Final Appeal", cohosting with Loni Coombs. The duo re-examine crimes in which the guilty verdict is in question; and attempt to discover and reevaluate evidence to help the convicted either achieve an appeal, or definitively determine guilt. The show intends to help those wrongly convicted, as Banks was. ==See also== *[[List of wrongful convictions in the United States]] ==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs= <ref name="calindex">{{cite web | title =California Births, 1905 - 1995 | publisher =Family Tree Legends | url =http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/calbirths?c=search&first=brian&last=banks&spelling=Exact&4_year=1985&4_month=7&4_day=24&5=&7=&SubmitSearch.x=65&SubmitSearch.y=18 | accessdate = August 9, 2013 }}</ref> <ref name="espn1">{{cite news | agency =Associated Press | title =Brian Banks to play for Locomotives | publisher =[[ESPN]] | date =September 19, 2012 | url =http://espn.go.com/united-football-league/story/_/id/8398967/exonerated-lb-brian-banks-getting-chance-ufl | accessdate = August 9, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="cbs1">{{cite web | author =CBS/AP | title =Brian Banks, football player exonerated in rape case, to sign with UFL team | publisher =[[CBS News]] | date =September 19, 2012 | url =http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57516203/brian-banks-football-player-exonerated-in-rape-case-to-sign-with-ufl-team/ | accessdate = August 9, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="ap1">{{cite news|author=Associated Press|title=Brian Banks signs with Las Vegas UFL team|url=http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_21596391/brian-banks-signs-las-vegas-ufl-team|accessdate=21 September 2012|newspaper=Press-Telegram|date=20 September 2012}}</ref> <ref name="a">{{cite news|last=Adams|first=Jay|title=Falcons Sign LB Brian Banks|url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Falcons-Sign-LB-Brian-Banks/8ef31f22-88e7-4f18-a177-6fadd2400c50|accessdate=3 April 2013|newspaper=atlantafalcons.com|date=3 April 2013}}</ref> <ref name="rivals1">{{cite web | last =Kimbrel | first =Rick | title =Junior To Watch: Brian Banks | work =[[Rivals.com]] | date =March 29, 2002 | url =https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?ReturnTo=&sid=&script=content.asp&cid=91795&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid= | accessdate = August 9, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="nbc1">{{cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/06/pete-carroll-excited-to-give-brian-banks-a-chance/ |title=Pete Carroll excited to give Brian Banks a chance &#124; ProFootballTalk |publisher=Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com |date= |accessdate=2013-04-03}}</ref> <ref name="seahawks1">{{cite web|last=Farnsworth |first=Clare |url=http://blog.seahawks.com/2013/04/03/brian-banks-gets-another-shot-at-nfl/ |title=Seahawks.com Blog &#124; Brian Banks gets another shot at NFL |publisher=Blog.seahawks.com |date= |accessdate=2013-04-03}}</ref> <ref name="cnn1">{{cite news|last=Shoichet|first=Catherine|title=Exonerated Brian Banks signs with Atlanta Falcons|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/03/us/georgia-football-player-exonerated/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1|work=CNN.com|publisher=Turner Broadcasting System|accessdate=4 April 2013|date=4 April 2013}}</ref> <ref name="b">{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9128819/atlanta-falcons-sign-exonerated-brian-banks |title=Atlanta Falcons sign exonerated Brian Banks |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=2012-05-12 |accessdate=2013-04-03}}</ref> <ref name="fan1">{{cite web | last =De Artola | first =Alicia | title =Brian Banks makes NFL debut after false rape conviction | work =Fansided | date =August 8, 2013 | url =http://fansided.com/2013/08/08/brian-banks-plays-in-first-nfl-game/ | accessdate = August 9, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="usa1">{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/story/2012-05-24/brian-banks-rape-conviction-overturned/55192420/1 |title=Ex-Poly standout has rape and kidnapping conviction reversed |publisher=[[Gannett]] |work=[[USA Today]] |date=2012-05-24 |accessdate=2013-04-03}}</ref> <ref name="c">{{cite web|author=|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/25/local/la-me-rape-dismiss-20120525 |title=A 10-year nightmare over rape conviction is over |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=2012-05-25 |accessdate=2013-04-03}}</ref> <ref name="nbc2">{{cite web | last =Lowrey | first =Brandon | title =Long Beach School District Sues Brian Banks' Accuser for $2M | work =[[NBC Los Angeles]] | date =April 12, 2013 | url =http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Long-Beach-School-District-Sues-Brian-Banks-Accuser-202744781.html | accessdate = August 9, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="press">{{cite web | last =Mellen | first =Greg | title =Long Beach Unified wins judgment against accuser in false rape case against Brian Banks | work =[[Press-Telegram]] | date =June 14, 2013 | url =http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_23465959/long-beach-unified-wins-judgment-against-accuser-false | accessdate = August 9, 2013}}</ref> }} ==External links== *[http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/roster/Brian-Banks/ec1c2918-d673-4af8-99de-c08d5af48d14 Atlanta Falcons bio] *[http://www.lasvegaslocos.com/team/players/index.html?player_id=78 Las Vegas Locomotives bio] *[http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=banksbri001 Just Sports Stats] *{{cite web | last =Farrar | first =Doug | title =Brian Banks takes his next step with the UFL | work =[[Yahoo! Sports]] | date =September 20, 2012 | url =https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/brian-banks-takes-next-step-ufl-151055010--nfl.html | accessdate = August 9, 2013}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Banks, Brian}} [[Category:1985 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American football linebackers]] [[Category:Las Vegas Locomotives players]] [[Category:Atlanta Falcons players]] [[Category:Players of American football from California]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Long Beach, California]] [[Category:Overturned convictions in the United States]] [[Category:People wrongfully convicted of rape]] [[Category:Prisoners and detainees of California]] [[Category:False allegations of sex crimes]]'