KALAMAZOO, Mich.–A plastic straw helped lead to a guilty plea in a string of credit union robberies here.
Federal prosecutors said that Edward Bowen, 48, has pleaded guilty to three robberies in 2014, including robbing one credit union—Preferred CU here—twice, once in May 2014 and again in June 2015.
Prosecutors said that during the second robbery at PCU Bowen left behind a cup and a plastic straw, from which DNA samples were obtained. The DNA matched Bowen’s DNA in a national crime database from a 1996 conviction for assault with intent to murder. Bowen’s fingerprint was also found on the cup.
Bowen now faces up to 25 years in prison following the plea.