A bank robber in Florida is facing two charges after using a mask to commit crimes at two banks. David Sartin Jr., 40 years old and from St. Petersburg, went back to an old tactic while on supervised release. He disguised himself as an ‘old man’ during these heists, according to federal authorities.
Robbery Details
Sartin, who was convicted of robbing banks in Texas wearing similar disguises, allegedly targeted Florida banks. His supervised release began in May 2025, yet he is accused of robbing a bank in August 2026. Federal investigators say he wore a prosthetic mask with gray facial hair during both actions.
The first robbery took place at Valley Bank in Largo on August 24. The suspect wore a straw hat, a sports jacket, gloves, and a fake face as he demanded money, steering clear of dye packs. A silent alarm was activated during the robbery, and the robber warned the teller to hurry.
Escape and Investigation
Authorities state he escaped with $2,900, using a bicycle and a Toyota FJ Cruiser as a getaway vehicle. Surveillance footage placed the vehicle in the vicinity during the crime and traced its movements using cameras from businesses and public transport. This vehicle had been used in Sartin’s previous crimes in Texas.
His second attempted robbery in September was in a Truist Bank in St. Petersburg. The suspect wore a flat cap, glasses, sports jacket, and an ‘old man’ mask. He fled with $2,554, the teller believing the old man appearance was merely a clever disguise.
Evidence Collection
The FBI had already placed Sartin under surveillance by this time. Cameras recorded his Toyota near his St. Petersburg home before and after the robbery. Additionally, later footage captured him altering the vehicle’s appearance by painting its roof.
Further investigations led to Sartin’s arrest on September 19 for breaching his supervised release. Inside his storage unit were a bicycle, clothing seen in robbery footage, an ‘old man’ mask, glasses, and a false gun.
Criminal History
Sartin has a history of attempted bank robbery, with a conviction in Mississippi from 2008 where he used Halloween masks. In 2018, he was sentenced to over ten years in federal prison for similar criminal activities in Texas.
Currently, he faces the possibility of 20 years in prison for each robbery if proven guilty, as per the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.