Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks: Danny Ray Miles
By Wade KwonIn August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.
Danny Ray Miles
Positions held: bartender, felon and federal witness
Wanted for: murder, kidnapping and robbery
Date of conviction: 1977
Sentence: life in prison
Criminally fun fact: Born Danny Milar, Miles hid guns in his garage in Ohio before testifying against the gun-running operation. The Witness Protection Program moved him to Florida, then Birmingham, where he was given a job tending bar at Pat James Tavern on Southside.
He and Samuel Yarber kidnapped and murdered two men on Nov. 3, 1975. Police recovered 17 bullets from the bodies and the ground. Miles, denied parole in 2007, will have another parole hearing in 2012.
Barbara Bearden, sister of Miles’ victim Ronald White, co-founded victims’ rights group Victims of Crime and Leniency.
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Additional reading:
- Bhamwiki: Danny Ray Miles
- Crime Watch
- Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed
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