Man Convicted in Multiple Iowa City Bank Robberies Sentenced to 30-years in Prison

A Quad Cities man who robbed three Iowa City banks last year and led officers on an hourlong chase in April 2012 that forced several Iowa City schools to lockdown has received a sentence of 30 years in federal prison.

According to Vanessa Miller of the Gazette, Eric Martin, 35, formerly of Davenport, was convicted of on charges "of armed bank robbery, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm."

Convicted Iowa City Bank Robber Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison (KCRG/Gazette)

Following his time in prison, Martin will serve a five-year term of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Iowa.

Martin had been accused of robbing Hills Bank in April of 2012 and leading police on a chase through residential neighborhoods and pointing a loaded 9mm pistol at officers right before his arrest.

According to Iowa City Police criminal complaints, Martin, then 34, of Davenport was accused of felony interference with official acts in addition to charges stemming from the robbery of the bank and subsequent pursuit.

Police say that after Martin was cornered and his bike disabled, he reached for the pistol he had allegedly used to commit the robbery as officers were closing in on him. The officers reached Martin and knocked him to the ground before he could get the pistol out, according to the criminal complaint. Officers reported that the gun was allegedly loaded and a bullet was chambered.

Two Iowa City Police officers received minor injuries during the scuffle, according to police.

Martin was also accused of robbing a Midwest One Bank