Federal agents say a convicted bank robber struck again in Florida while wearing a lifelike “old man” mask, and they now have him charged in two new heists.
Story Highlights
- Federal prosecutors charged David Sartin Jr. with two 2026 bank robberies in Pinellas County.
- Agents say the suspect used a prosthetic “old man” mask and demanded cash without dye packs.
- Investigators tied him to a vehicle and bicycle seen near a bank and searched a storage unit.
- Agents reported finding a matching mask and a fake gun among items linked to the heists.
Charges Filed After Two Tampa Bay Bank Heists
Federal prosecutors in Florida charged David Sartin Jr. with two counts tied to separate 2026 bank robberies in Largo and St. Petersburg. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida said the August 24 and September 15 incidents followed the same pattern. The robber walked to the teller counter, demanded cash, and warned against dye packs. Prosecutors noted Sartin’s past federal conviction for bank robbery, which explains the repeat-offender framing but does not decide this case.
A joint team from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Largo Police Department, and St. Petersburg Police Department is handling the case. Investigators said surveillance footage captured a vehicle and a bicycle near one of the banks before the first robbery, helping them identify a suspect to track and question. Local reporting attributes that link to surveillance video that placed the transport near the area in the lead-up to the crime window.
Mask, Fake Gun, and Method Cited by Investigators
Officials said the robber wore a realistic “old man” mask, complete with gray facial hair, in both incidents. The Department of Justice described the same disguise, the same teller approach, and the same no–dye pack demand in each robbery. That pattern is a key part of the government’s case. The office also noted Sartin’s earlier conviction, which can support a modus-operandi theory for identity but is separate from proof on the new counts.
Agents obtained and executed a search on a storage unit during the follow-up probe. According to a report that quoted the criminal complaint, they recovered an “old man” mask that matched the one seen in both robberies. They also reported finding a fake gun and other items similar to what appears in surveillance images. Those details, if confirmed in court, could strengthen the tie between the scenes and the suspect’s stored gear.
What Comes Next Under Federal Law
Prosecutors said the bank-robbery charges can carry up to 20 years in federal prison per count, depending on final statutes and enhancements. Some reports add the two counts together to describe exposure as up to 40 years, which explains why some coverage differs. The Justice Department release and local outlets have used both figures to describe the stakes. Sentencing depends on the statutes charged and any later plea, trial outcome, or guideline issues.
Convicted bank robber returns to old tricks with ‘old man’ mask in Florida heists, feds say https://t.co/UFYUSK59GZ
— Follow @JodyField (@JodyField) October 21, 2026
The government’s case is in the charging phase, not at a verdict. That means the allegations are not yet proven in court. Still, the mix of video surveillance, a distinctive mask, and items agents say they found in a storage unit outlines how modern policing builds pattern cases. The FBI’s coordination with local police reflects a federal focus on repeat robbery. Past federal studies show high recidivism among bank robbers, which is why such cases draw tight attention from investigators.
Sources:
nypost.com, justice.gov, wftv.com, yahoo.com
