Every Person Named in Banks's Book — Network Map from His Own Words

What This Page Is

Brian Banks wrote a book. He named people. He described relationships. He confessed to behaviors — his own and others’. Every word is a party admission under Michigan Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(A) — his own published statement, admissible against him in pending litigation.

This page catalogs every person named in the book, identifies who they are using public records, and documents the relationships and behaviors Banks described in his own words.

Fair use notice: All excerpts are used for criticism, commentary, and public-interest reporting under 17 U.S.C. § 107. See the companion analysis for the full fair use framework.

The Judges — Three “Mentors” Who Are Sitting or Retired Jurists

Judge Denise Langford Morris — 42 References

Role per Banks: “my mentor” Actual role: Banks’s felony sentencing judge in Oakland County Circuit Court (~1999). Now retired. Wrote the book’s foreword.

Banks describes a relationship that progressed from judge-defendant to personal mentorship to campaign labor to credential endorsement:

1. Sentenced Banks leniently (1-year probation, 6 months tether)
2. Told Banks: “you need to get back in school and go to someone’s law school!” — while knowing his felonies would bar admission
3. Met Banks for lunch at Brandy’s restaurant on Telegraph in Pontiac through mutual friend Roeiah
4. Discussed her morning docket with civilians at the restaurant: Banks writes that “Judge Langford Morris was describing her morning docket to Roeiah and the other young lady and the various cases that she had heard.” A sitting judge describing active cases she heard that morning to non-lawyers at a restaurant.
5. Invited Banks back to her courtroom and paraded him to staff
6. Attended MSU Law BLSA events at Banks’s invitation
7. Treated Banks to dinner when he “graduated from law school” — along with “several other judges”
8. Banks volunteered on her Michigan Supreme Court campaign
9. Wrote the foreword to a book branded “Brian Banks, J.D.” — endorsing the credential fraud of the felon she sentenced

What Banks confesses she did:

• Discussed active cases with civilians in a restaurant (Canon 2, Rule 2.10 — Judicial Statements on Pending Cases)
• Developed a personal ex parte relationship with a former defendant
• Used a former felon defendant for campaign labor
• Endorsed credential fraud in a published book foreword

Judge Vonda Evans — 9+ References

Role per Banks: “my mentor,” campaign strategist, friend Actual role: Retired Wayne County Circuit Court judge

Banks writes: “Retired Judge Vonda Evans and I became friends almost sixteen years ago. Vonda and I met through a mutual attorney friend one summer while hanging out in downtown Detroit.”

What Banks confesses she did:

• Coined “Bank on Banks” — the campaign slogan: “After going back and forth with several ideas, Vonda finally said, ‘I got it! Bank on Banks!’”
• Provided campaign strategy advice for a nine-time convicted felon running for office
• Arrived at Banks’s grandfather’s hospital with Judge Cylenthia Miller — demonstrating personal, not professional, relationship
• Was present the night before the grandfather’s death alongside Gay-Dagnogo
• Banks describes her as “the queen of unorthodox campaigning” who “would unintentionally campaign even when her elections were years away”

Judge Cylenthia LaToye Miller — 7 References

Role per Banks: “my mentor,” “like family,” “big sister” Actual role: Sitting 3rd Circuit Court Judge. PCA Board President (LARA Entity 900072324). JTC complaint filed.

Banks writes: “She was a mentor for me while I was in law school and eventually became like family. We’ve watched each other grow and take prominent roles in the political world. From a district court judge to now a circuit court judge, I’ve been with her every step of the way.”

And: “my big sister, Cylenthia, and I survived.”

What Banks confesses she did:

• Arrived at Banks’s grandfather’s hospital alongside Judge Vonda Evans — personal family crisis response by sitting judges
• Maintained a “like family” relationship with a nine-time convicted felon while serving as a judge
• Currently serves as Board President of a school operated by that same convicted felon
• Banks’s description of watching “each other grow and take prominent roles” implies mutual support throughout both careers

Judge E. Lynise Bryant

Role per Banks: Thanked as friend in acknowledgments Actual role: Wayne County judge

Judge Regina Thomas

Role per Banks: Thanked as friend in acknowledgments Actual role: Wayne County judge

The Inner Circle — Domestic and Economic Unit

Joseph Holland (“Joe”)

Role per Banks: “my best friend and brother… You’ve now become a permanent fixture in our family” Actual role: Three-time convicted felon. PAC treasurer (Bank on Banks PAC). Shares Banks’s mailing address. Domestic/economic partner.

Banks describes Holland at every major life event:

• Present at master’s graduation
• First call when the FBI arrived: “I called Joe, who was at work, and told him what had just taken place and asked him to meet me at the lawyer’s office at 11 a.m.”
• Went to attorney Ben Gonek’s office together — shared legal crisis response
• Cut Banks’s grandfather’s hair in the casket: “Joe and I returned to the funeral home a day or so later so Joe could give my grandfather one last haircut.”
• Present at hospital alongside sitting judges

This is not a business relationship. This is a domestic/economic unit described in the defendant’s own published words.

Roeiah — 33 References

Role per Banks: Friend, law school classmate, bridge to Langford Morris Actual role: The most frequently named character after Langford Morris. Attended MSU College of Law with Banks through the LEO Program.

Roeiah is the connective tissue of the entire Banks-judiciary relationship:

• Met Langford Morris independently and “decided to exchange information”
• Arranged the lunch at Brandy’s restaurant where Langford Morris discussed her docket
• “Roeiah said, ‘Brian, this is your opportunity to let the judge know everything that you’ve done.’”
• Toured MSU Law with Banks, met Mary Ferguson and Dean Alsup together
• Both entered the LEO Program (designed for students who needed “an extra push”)

The Political Network

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo

Role per Banks: Friend for “over twenty-four years through church,” fellow State Rep, “two of a kind” Actual role: Former DPSCD Board member who voted to approve PCA charter. Now Detroit City Ombudsman. The DPSCD-to-Ombudsman move is the quid pro quo. AGC complaint filed.

Banks writes: “No one would ever know if we had a disagreement because whenever we do not agree, we align on a matter before we’re in front of others.”

What Banks confesses she did:

• Was present at the hospital the night before Banks’s grandfather died — alongside Judge Vonda Evans
• The 24-year church friendship predates all political positions
• Banks describes coordinated public-facing behavior: “we align on a matter before we’re in front of others”

Tenisha Yancey

Role per Banks: Elementary school friend, same street, same schools Actual role: Sitting Wayne County Circuit Court judge. Succeeded Banks in his Michigan House seat.

Banks writes:

“One of my elementary school friends was Tenisha. Tenisha and I lived on the same street and went to elementary and high school together.”

“Currently, we live one street over from each other”

“This is the same Tenisha who succeeded me after I resigned from office.”

What Banks confesses about her — in his own published words:

“As a young adult, Tenisha ended up having some troubles of her own which caused her to spend a month or two in jail. Luckily, we both got our stuff together and Tenisha graduated and received her bachelor’s and law degrees. She then became an assistant prosecuting attorney even with felonies and misdemeanors.”

A sitting judge who Banks states had “felonies and misdemeanors” and “spent a month or two in jail.” Banks published this. It’s his party admission about a member of his network. Her sister operates his school. They still live one street apart.

Thomas Stallworth IV (“Tommy”)

Role per Banks: Mentor, State Rep colleague What Banks describes: Met to discuss expungement law. Stallworth brought Banks to a meeting with Governor Rick Snyder. “Come with me… we’re headed to a meeting with Governor Rick Snyder.”

Latisha Johnson

Role per Banks: Thanked as friend in acknowledgments Actual role: PCA Board Secretary. Detroit City Council member. Campaign received payments from the same vendor network.

Commissioner Jewel Ware

Role per Banks: Thanked as friend Actual role: Wayne County political network. Note: volunteer Margaret Ware also thanked separately.

Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett

Role per Banks: Thanked as friend Significance: County-level institutional access through personal friendship.

Karen Dumas

Role per Banks: Thanked as friend Actual role: Detroit media/communications figure. Media access node.

Mildred Gaddis

Role per Banks: Thanked as friend Actual role: Detroit radio host. Media access node.

MSU College of Law — The Gateway

Mary Ferguson

Role per Banks: Director of Diversity Services at MSU College of Law What Banks describes: Ferguson met Banks and Roeiah immediately after their admissions tour. “Hi, I’m Mary Ferguson. I’m the Director of Diversity Services at the College of Law.” She shepherded both into the LEO Program and shared “portions of our story” with Dean Alsup.

Significance: Ferguson is the person who facilitated a nine-time convicted felon’s entry into law school. She advocated for his admission.

Dean Connell Alsup — 21 References

Role per Banks: African-American dean at MSU College of Law, supporter What Banks describes: “Dean Connell Alsup asked us a few questions about our journey and our desire to attend law school… Dean Alsup seemed immediately interested. Mary and Dean Alsup both said that we would make good candidates for the LEO Program.”

Banks names Alsup 21 times. The dean became a recurring presence throughout Banks’s law school experience.

Professor Mulligan — 14 References

Role per Banks: Contracts professor at MSU Law What Banks describes: A major figure in the law school narrative. Banks names him 14 times — more than most friends and family.

Professor Filiatrault

Role per Banks: MSU Law professor What Banks describes: Named once in the law school narrative.

Miss Linda

Role per Banks: Admissions staff at MSU Law What Banks describes: First point of contact for campus tour.

The BMF Connection

Tonesa Welch (“Toni” / “Aunt Toni”)

Role per Banks: Step-aunt Actual role: BMF Defendant #22 in USA v. Flenory et al. Banks’s biological father is also a BMF defendant.

Banks writes:

“my Step-aunt Toni got into some trouble with her then boyfriend, ‘T.’” “my aunt was a part of the internationally known group called ‘Black Mafia Family’ better known as ‘BMF’” “I, along with many other family members and friends, accompanied Toni to court on her sentencing day.” “She would often call and speak with my grandfather” “Toni and I frequently emailed each other and I flew out there one time to see and check on her.” “To this day, Toni and I remain close.”

Active, ongoing, maintained relationship with a convicted member of one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in American history. Documented by the defendant in his own published autobiography.

Marvin Stokes — Banks’s Biological Father

Role per Banks: Biological father, discovered through a birth certificate What Banks describes: Banks discovered his father’s identity when he saw a birth certificate belonging to “Felicia” — a fellow church member — that listed “Marvin Stokes” as father. Banks and Felicia share the same father.

Banks grew up calling O.D. Banks “the only father that I really knew.” The biological father Marvin Stokes was absent.

The Legal Professionals

Mr. Condino — 9 References

Role per Banks: Defense attorney in Oakland County felony case What Banks describes: Represented Banks before Judge Langford Morris. Negotiated the plea deal that resulted in probation and tether.

Ben Gonek — 2 References

Role per Banks: Attorney retained when FBI/AG arrived What Banks describes: Banks and Holland went to Gonek’s office together when the FBI showed up. “I proceeded to contact an attorney by the name of Ben Gonek… He advised me to come see him within the next hour.” Gonek recognized the FBI agent’s name from prior cases and scheduled a meeting.

Brian Schmidtke, Esq.

Role per Banks: Legislative staff Significance: A licensed attorney working under a person using “J.D.” credentials without bar admission.

Rebecca Fadel, J.D. / Kyle Giallonardo, J.D.

Role per Banks: Legislative staff Significance: J.D. holders who worked under a non-licensed supervisor who presented himself as “J.D.”

Jillian Martin, Esq. / Kristine Longstreet, Esq.

Role per Banks: Friends Significance: Licensed attorneys in Banks’s social network who would have known — or should have known — about his bar status.

The Church and Spiritual Network

Bishop J. Drew Sheard / Karen Clark-Sheard

Role per Banks: Pastor and First Lady Actual role: Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ. The Clark Sisters are one of the most prominent gospel music families in America. Significance: Spiritual institutional cover.

Rev. Valerie M. Messiah (July 18, 1966 – March 29, 2020)

Role per Banks: “great encourager, supporter, and friend” What Banks describes: Lost to COVID-19 in March 2020. Banks: “believing that I could solve and handle anything.”

Pastor Ronald “Bishop” Alexander / Elder Robert Moore

Role per Banks: Thanked as friends in acknowledgments.

Campaign, Business, and Media

Carles Whitlow — Nine Thirty Marketing

Role per Banks: Graphic and digital media team for the book Actual role: Banks’s Senate campaign payee ($9,400 per campaign finance records).

DeShon Gale — DG Creative Studios

Role per Banks: Book cover designer Significance: Designed the cover that says “Brian Banks, J.D.” — the primary visual instrument of the credential fraud.

Tiffanie Y. Lewis — Love1Ministries@gmail.com

Role per Banks: Book editor and “motivator during this process” Significance: Edited a book branded with unauthorized legal credentials.

Blanche McAllister-Dykes

Role per Banks: Gospel artist Banks manages; “trusted me to manage her as an artist since the start of our friendship” What Banks describes: “I have traveled the world with her” — Banks served as her music manager throughout his political career. She performed at his legislative Christmas events alongside Karen Clark Sheard, Kierra Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and others.

Devin Hutchings

Role per Banks: Thanked as friend in acknowledgments; called “first client” elsewhere Actual role: PCA Board Treasurer. President, CPAN. His SuperPAC (MI Deserves Better) sent $20K to Right Turn Project.

Campaign Volunteers — “Team Bank on Banks”

Friends Named in Acknowledgments

Every person below was named by Banks in his published book. Each name is a node in the network. Each node’s institutional affiliations create potential Wave 8+ notification targets.

Named in the Story (Not Acknowledgments)

Behaviors Banks Confesses Others Committed

These are not accusations. These are descriptions published by Brian Banks in his own book.

1. A Sitting Judge Discussed Active Cases in a Restaurant

“Judge Langford Morris was describing her morning docket to Roeiah and the other young lady and the various cases that she had heard.”

Location: Brandy’s restaurant, Telegraph Road, Pontiac, Michigan. Approximate date: ~2006-2007 (Banks says “Seven and a half years” after 1999 sentencing).

A sitting Oakland County Circuit Court judge discussed her morning docket — specific cases she heard that same day — with civilians at a restaurant. This violates:

• Canon 2, Rule 2.10 — Judicial Statements on Pending and Impending Cases
• Canon 1, Rule 1.2 — Promoting Confidence in the Judiciary
• MRPC 3.5 — if any attorney was present

2. A Sitting Judge Developed a Personal Relationship with a Former Defendant

Banks describes the progression: sentencing → chance reconnection through Roeiah → restaurant lunch → courtroom visits → law school event invitations → graduation dinner → Supreme Court campaign volunteering → book foreword.

This is an improper ex parte personal relationship between a judge and a former felony defendant she sentenced.

3. A Sitting Judge Endorsed Credential Fraud via Book Foreword

Langford Morris wrote the foreword to a book branded “Brian Banks, J.D.” while knowing:

• She sentenced him for multiple felonies
• Those felonies prevented bar admission
• He was using “J.D.” as a professional credential without a license

As a former assistant U.S. Attorney (Eastern District of Michigan), Langford Morris knows precisely what “J.D.” means without bar admission. Her endorsement of the book is an endorsement of the credential fraud.

4. “Several Other Judges” Celebrated His “Law Graduation”

“When I graduated from law school, Judge Langford Morris and several other judges and friends treated me to dinner to celebrate.”

Multiple unnamed judges personally celebrated a nine-time convicted felon’s law school graduation — a defendant whose felonies they knew would prevent bar admission.

5. Judges Vonda Evans and Cylenthia Miller Arrived at a Family Hospital

Two sitting judges responded to a personal family medical crisis — Banks’s grandfather’s hospitalization and death. This is documented personal relationship, not professional interaction.

6. A Sitting Judge Had “Felonies and Misdemeanors”

Banks writes about Judge Tenisha Yancey:

“Tenisha ended up having some troubles of her own which caused her to spend a month or two in jail… She then became an assistant prosecuting attorney even with felonies and misdemeanors.”

Banks published this about a sitting Wayne County judge. Whether true or false, it is his own party admission about a network member.

7. “Prominent People” Knowingly Purchased Stolen Goods

“Some of the people who were buying the items from us were prominent people and they knew that the items were obtained through illegal means.”

Banks confesses that unnamed “prominent people” knowingly received stolen merchandise from his organized retail theft operation. He does not name them. They are unindicted co-conspirators described by the defendant himself.

8. Gay-Dagnogo and Judge Evans at Hospital Night

“That night, my friends, Sherry Gay-Dagnogo and Judge Vonda Evans…”

A state representative and a sitting judge were at Banks’s personal family crisis event. This is the personal network that later voted for PCA’s charter (Gay-Dagnogo) and endorsed Banks’s campaigns.

The Numbers

What This Means

Brian Banks did not just write a memoir. He published a network diagram with names, relationships, titles, and institutional affiliations — all in his own words, all admissible as party admissions, all permanently available at ISBN 173575403X.

Every person named in the acknowledgments chose to be associated with “Brian Banks, J.D.” — a credential that does not exist. Every judge named as a “mentor” accepted a personal relationship with a nine-time convicted felon. Every licensed attorney named as a friend tolerated the unauthorized use of “J.D.” credentials in their professional network.

The book is not a memoir. It is an org chart.

Analysis based on the published text of “It Had 2 Happen” (ISBN 173575403X). All identifications cross-referenced against public records. All excerpts used under 17 U.S.C. § 107 for criticism and public-interest commentary.

Updated: October 5, 2026