Convicted Bank Robber Accused of Using 'Old Man' Mask in Florida Heists
Federal authorities allege David Sartin Jr. committed two bank robberies on supervised release while wearing a prosthetic disguise, similar to one used in previous crimes.
A convicted bank robber has allegedly returned to his old methods, using a prosthetic "old man" mask to commit two bank heists in Florida while on supervised release, federal authorities stated.
David Sartin Jr., 40, of St. Petersburg, faces two bank robbery charges. Investigators allege he targeted banks weeks apart, concealing his face with a prosthetic mask featuring gray facial hair. This alleged pattern follows a sentence of more than 10 years in federal prison for five bank robberies in Texas, during which Sartin also employed a similar disguise, according to a criminal complaint.
Sartin’s supervised release began in May 2025, and the first alleged Florida bank robbery occurred in August 2026. "In all of SARTIN JR.’s bank robberies, he used a mask," an FBI special agent wrote in an affidavit.
The first holdup on August 24 at Valley Bank in Largo involved a suspect wearing a straw hat, sports jacket, gloves, and the prosthetic face covering. The suspect demanded money from a teller, specifically requesting "no dye packs," the complaint detailed.
As the teller gathered the cash and discreetly activated a silent alarm, the robber urged them to hurry. The suspect reportedly said, "Until we meet again," after collecting the money, according to a bank manager.
Authorities reported that the suspect escaped with $2,900, using a wet-floor sign to prop open the exit doors before fleeing toward a nearby church. Surveillance video showed the suspect retrieving a bicycle, riding into a nature preserve, and then leaving the area in a Toyota FJ Cruiser. This vehicle was reportedly used in Sartin’s earlier Texas robberies.
Investigators tracked the Toyota’s movements using video footage from surrounding businesses, a police cruiser, and a school bus.
On September 15, a similarly disguised suspect entered a Truist Bank in St. Petersburg. The individual wore a flat cap, glasses, a sports jacket, and an "old man" mask with a gray mustache and whiskers.
The suspect handed a teller a note demanding cash without dye and fled with approximately $2,554. The teller informed investigators that the man seemed to be wearing a mask and "did not move like an old man would."
During the investigation, the FBI placed a surveillance camera on Sartin’s home. Video captured the Toyota leaving before the second robbery and returning afterward, with a person resembling Sartin unloading a bicycle. The following evening, investigators observed Sartin spray-painting the vehicle's white roof black, altering its appearance.
Sartin was arrested on September 19 on a warrant for violating his supervised release. Searches of his property revealed a bicycle and clothing consistent with those seen in robbery footage.
Investigators searching a storage unit rented by Sartin discovered an "old man" mask that matched the disguise used in both robberies, along with glasses, clothing, and a fake handgun.
In a guest room where Sartin occasionally stayed, authorities found another mask and a journal with a title page reading, "God’s Best friend is a Bank Robber!"
Sartin’s prior convictions date back to 2008, when he was convicted of attempted bank robbery in Mississippi, involving Halloween masks. In 2018, he received a sentence of 10 years and one month for the Texas bank robberies.
If convicted of the new charges, Sartin faces up to 20 years in prison for each count, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.