A man already convicted once for robbing banks in disguise is now accused of pulling the same trick a decade later, this time hiding behind a lifelike “old man” mask.
Story Snapshot
- Federal prosecutors charged David Sartin, 40, with robbing two Tampa Bay-area banks while wearing a realistic old-man mask.
- The robberies happened at a Largo bank on August 24, 2026, and a St. Petersburg bank on September 15, 2026.
- Investigators say they found a matching mask, clothing, and a fake handgun tied to Sartin.
- Sartin was on supervised release for five earlier Texas bank robberies when the new crimes allegedly occurred.
Charges Filed After Two Florida Bank Robberies
The Department of Justice announced on October 16, 2026, that David Sartin faces federal charges for robbing two banks in Florida’s Pinellas County area. A criminal complaint, filed October 14, accuses Sartin of hitting a bank in Largo on August 24 and another in St. Petersburg on September 15. In both robberies, the suspect allegedly demanded cash and warned tellers not to include dye packs.
Surveillance footage from the two robberies reportedly shows a man using similar disguises each time. In August, the suspect wore a straw hat, sports jacket, gloves, and a prosthetic face covering. In September, he allegedly wore a flat cap, glasses, a sports jacket, and an old-man mask complete with gray facial hair.
Search Turns Up Mask, Clothing, and Fake Gun
Investigators searched property connected to Sartin and say they recovered an old-man mask with gray facial hair, glasses, clothing that matched the surveillance images, and a fake handgun. Reports describe the items as being found in a storage unit or residence linked to Sartin, directly matching what witnesses and cameras captured during both robberies.
Sartin’s criminal history gave investigators an early lead. He has a prior conviction for bank robbery and was serving supervised release when the new robberies allegedly took place. That earlier case involved five bank robberies in Texas back in 2016, according to reporting on his record.
Multiple Agencies Worked the Case
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Largo Police Department, and St. Petersburg Police Department all took part in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belkis H. Callaos is prosecuting the case, which was built on evidence gathered across jurisdictions rather than a single department’s account. Sartin has been charged by criminal complaint, meaning the case must still go through formal court proceedings before any trial or verdict.
Why Repeat Disguises Often Help Investigators
Bank robbery cases like this one tend to get solved more often than other crimes. A policing research group found clearance rates for bank robbery run close to 60 percent, with investigators often catching suspects within a month. Repeated patterns, such as a distinctive mask or consistent demand language, frequently give police the connection they need between separate robberies.
Federal crime data backs up the pattern seen in this case. In 2023, the FBI identified 801 out of 1,652 people involved in reported bank robberies, burglaries, and larcenies, and nearly a third of those identified had prior convictions for similar crimes. That history doesn’t prove guilt in a new case, but it explains why investigators often look first at people with matching records.
What Comes Next
Sartin now faces federal bank robbery charges tied to two separate incidents just weeks apart. The case remains in its early stages, and like any criminal complaint, the charges represent allegations that still must be proven in court. For now, the unusual disguise and the defendant’s past conviction have drawn wide attention to a case that otherwise follows a familiar investigative path.
Prosecutors say a man who served 10 years for five masked Texas bank robberies hit two Florida banks in an "old man" mask. Agents found a journal: "God's Best friend is a Bank Robber!" Charged, not convicted. Disguise or alter ego? pic.twitter.com/P8sTu9GjqG
— JackWorld (@JackWrld1738) October 22, 2026
Court proceedings will determine whether the evidence collected, including the recovered mask, clothing, and surveillance footage, holds up as the case moves forward. Until then, Sartin is presumed innocent, and the Middle District of Florida will handle the next steps in prosecuting the charges filed against him.
Sources:
reddit.com, justice.gov, whmi.com, people.com, foxnews.com, abcnews.com, yahoo.com
