‘Well Dressed’ robber convicted; targeted Modesto banks

A Roseville man on Friday pleaded guilty to robbing five Northern California banks in six weeks this past winter, including a Wells Fargo Bank branch on McHenry Avenue in north Modesto.

David James Lira, 39, is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 12 and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for each count, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento.

Lira was known to federal authorities as the “Well Dressed Man” because of his various disguises, including coats, fake beards, hats and glasses.

Prosecutors said Lira rented cars to use as his getaway vehicles in some of the bank robberies. Lira reportedly stole more than $31,000 in cash from the banks.

Lira robbed the following banks:

▪ Umpqua Bank in the 1800 block of Douglas Boulevard in Roseville on Dec. 3.

▪ Wells Fargo Bank in 3400 block of McHenry Avenue in Modesto on Dec. 11.

▪ Wells Fargo Bank in the 4400 block of Tassajara Road in Dublin on Dec. 17.

▪ U.S. Bank in the 2100 block of Oroville Dam Boulevard East in Oroville on Dec. 23.

▪ U.S. Bank in the 2100 of West Grant Line Road in Tracy on Jan. 6.

Prosecutors said Lira also tried to rob two others:

▪ Bank of the West in the 1100 block of Galleria Boulevard in Roseville on Dec. 1.

▪ Delta Bank in the 2700 block of McHenry Avenue in Modesto on Dec. 11.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 2:04 PM with the headline "‘Well Dressed’ robber convicted; targeted Modesto banks."