VIDALIA, La. – A jury took 90 minutes Thursday to find Tony Banks and Tyrone Banks guilty of five counts of armed robbery and one count of attempted armed robbery for the April robberies of a Pizza Hut and furniture store in Concordia Parish.

And the Seventh Judicial District Court jury found Antonio Hawkins of Vidalia guilty of one count of attempted armed robbery and two counts of attempted first-degree robbery for the robbery of Ezy Pay Furniture in Ferriday.

One count of attempted first-degree robbery against Hawkins was dropped by the District Attorney’s Office because the jury returned with nine guilty votes on that count instead of the required 10. Judge Leo Boothe will sentence the three men Sept. 13.

&uot;I’m glad justice has been served, and we’re all thankful it’s over,&uot; said Dennis Anderson, owner of Ezy Pay. That store was robbed April 4, the day after Pizza Hut in Vidalia was robbed.

&uot;The jury paid attention, … and they had their hands full,&uot; said Assistant District Attorney Ronnie McMillan. He added that he decided to drop the fourth charge against Hawkins &uot;rather than risk putting the whole trial at issue.&uot;

Hawkins’ relatives, who were present when the verdicts were read just after 5 p.m. Thursday, had no comment. They, as well as the defendants, showed little expression and made no noise at the verdicts were read.

Public Defender Derrick Carson said his office does not handle appeals. But he added that the defendants had talked about the possibility of an appeal and said that &uot;if they decide to appeal, I’ll help them any way I&160;can.&uot;

At the onset of the three-and-a-half-day trial, twins Tyrone and Tony Banks of Memphis, Tenn., each faced six counts of armed robbery. Hawkins faced four counts of armed robbery.

A fourth defendant, Stanton Easley of Nashville, Tenn., pleaded guilty Monday and received, including concurrent sentences, 85 years in prison on two counts of armed robbery and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Boothe told the jury that the trial was, in many ways, the most complex trial in which he had ever been involved.

&uot;This was the most counts on the most defendants I have ever had, and I read to you the most complex set of (jury) instructions I’ve ever read,&uot; Boothe said. &uot;This is one of the best trials I’ve seen, and you’ve done a remarkable job.&uot;