Manhattan Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robberies

TOPEKA, KS—A man from Manhattan, Kan., has pleaded guilty to two bank robberies, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Mark Stanton Wyche, 23, Manhattan, Kan., pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on Oct. 4, 2011, he robbed the Community First National Bank, 210 Tuttle Creek Boulevard in Manhattan, and on Nov. 17, 2011, he robbed the Kansas State Bank, 555 Poyntz Avenue in Manhattan.

At Community First National Bank, Wyche entered the building wearing a dark jacket, black gloves, sunglasses and a cap. He handed a teller a note that said: “Give me all $100 bills in your drawer! Now! No alarms, no dye packs. Be quick I have a gun!!” During the robbery, he raised a portion of his clothing to reveal what looked like a handgun wedged into his waistband.

At Kansas State Bank, Wyche entered the building wearing a black coat, gloves, black stocking cap and dark sunglasses. He gave the teller a note that said: “You are being robbed. Give me all the 100 dollar bills in your drawer. You have 10 seconds. No alarms. No dye packs.” He did not display a gun.

Sentencing is set for May 23. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 for the Community First National Bank Robbery, and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 for the Kansas State Bank robbery.

Grissom commended the Riley County Police Department, the FBI, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Warner and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.