Banks One Stop Auto Owner Arrested Following State Investigation
- Nathan Springfield
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
VINCENNES, Ind. (We Are Knox County) - The owner of Banks One Stop Auto in Vincennes was arrested following an investigation by the Indiana Secretary of State’s office.
James M. Banks was taken into custody on April 29 and faces 10 counts of fraud and 10 counts of forgery, all classified as Level 6 felonies.
The investigation began in July 2024, following allegations that fraudulent documents had been submitted to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by WAKC News Now, an investigator with the Secretary of State’s office contacted the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in September 2024.
The investigation was completed on April 2, 2025, and alleges that several Indiana State Form 39530 documents were submitted to the BMV with false signatures.
These forms, which verify that a law enforcement officer has inspected a vehicle or watercraft, were reportedly submitted between April 5 and June 12, 2024.
The affidavit indicates that one Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy was linked to 14 of the submitted forms.
The deputy stated he had completed only five, and that the remaining nine appeared to have been forged using his name and signature.
Another deputy was shown a form bearing his name and signature but confirmed he had not signed the document.
He also noted that the call sign listed belonged to a jail officer, not a sheriff’s deputy.
Banks was arrested, booked into the Knox County Jail, and later released on bond.
Earlier this month, the Indiana Secretary of State revoked the dealership’s license.
A release from the Secretary of State’s office also confirmed that both James and Tanna Banks are permanently barred from owning or managing a dealership in the state of Indiana.
