A Promise City, Iowa, man pleaded guilty in federal court to the armed robbery of a Princeton bank.
Phillip Michael Blink, 67, entered his plea before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of armed bank robbery and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Blink admitted to robbing the First Interstate Bank in Princeton on May 19, 2023. Wearing a cowboy hat, a red bandana over his face, gloves, and a trench coat, Blink entered the bank around 9:25 a.m. He approached a teller and, speaking in a low voice, said, “I’m sorry, but this is going to be a bad morning.” Blink placed a light blue bag on the counter and demanded, “I want all the money.”
As the teller began placing bills from her machine into the bag, Blink pulled a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic handgun from his right pocket. “I told you it was going to be a bad morning,” he added, placing the gun on the counter and pointing it at the teller.
After obtaining $4,115, Blink left the bank and fled in a Ford F-150 truck, heading north on Highway 65. The bank manager managed to capture photographs of Blink and his vehicle as he left the scene. Bank employees promptly called 911 to report the incident.
Later that day, a Knoxville, Iowa, police officer pulled Blink over. Upon his arrest, Blink admitted to the armed robbery. A search of his truck revealed the Ruger handgun, clothing matching the robbery description, and the stolen money.
Blink faces up to 25 years in federal prison without parole for the armed bank robbery charge, plus an additional mandatory minimum sentence of five years for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. These sentences must be served consecutively. The final sentence will be determined by the court after considering the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled following a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
