A Florida man already convicted of robbing banks is accused of doing it again, this time wearing a realistic “old man” mask while out on supervised release.
Quick Take
- Federal prosecutors charged a Florida man with robbing two Tampa Bay banks in August and September 2026 while wearing a disguise.
- The suspect allegedly wore a prosthetic old-man mask, gray facial hair, glasses, and a hat during both heists.
- He was on supervised release for a prior bank robbery conviction tied to five Texas robberies in 2016.
- Investigators say they found a matching mask, clothing, and a fake handgun in a storage unit linked to him.
- The case remains a criminal complaint, meaning the charges are allegations, not a proven conviction.
Two Bank Robberies Linked By Disguise and Method
The Department of Justice says a man robbed a bank in Largo, Florida, on August 24, 2026, and another in St. Petersburg on September 15, 2026. In both cases, the suspect allegedly wore an old-man mask and told tellers not to include dye packs with the stolen cash. Investigators say the method was close enough to tie the two robberies to the same person.
Surveillance video from the first robbery reportedly showed a man in a straw hat, sports jacket, gloves, and a prosthetic face covering. In the second robbery, the suspect allegedly wore a flat cap, glasses, a sports jacket, and an old-man mask with gray facial hair. Investigators say the repeated clothing and disguise choices helped connect the two cases.
David Sartin, identified by the Department of Justice as the suspect, now faces federal charges in connection with both robberies. He was charged by criminal complaint, a legal step that means prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to bring charges, not that a judge or jury has decided his guilt.
Search Turns Up Mask, Clothing and a Fake Gun
Investigators searched a storage unit and residence connected to Sartin, according to the Department of Justice and other reports. They say they found an old-man mask with gray facial hair, glasses, clothing matching what the suspect wore in surveillance footage, and a fake handgun. Officials say those items line up closely with what tellers and cameras captured during both robberies.
Sartin was serving supervised release at the time of the alleged robberies, a condition tied to his earlier conviction. Reports describe that earlier case as involving five bank robberies in Texas in 2016, for which he served time before his release. Federal officials point to that history as part of the reason his name surfaced during the new investigation.
The case drew in several law enforcement agencies rather than resting on one department’s work. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Largo Police Department, and the St. Petersburg Police Department all took part in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belkis H. Callaos is prosecuting the case, according to Department of Justice records.
Why Disguises and Repeat Offenses Matter to Investigators
Bank robbery investigators often rely on repeated patterns, like a specific disguise or demand wording, to connect separate crimes to one suspect. Research on bank robbery cases shows that clearance rates sit around 60%, and that distinctive disguises frequently help lead investigators to an arrest. That pattern explains why investigators treated the matching masks and clothing as a key lead, even though matching items alone do not prove who wore them.
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
Federal data also shows that prior convictions often resurface in bank crime investigations. In 2023, about 30% of identified suspects in bank robbery, burglary, and larceny cases had earlier convictions for similar crimes. That number was slightly higher, at 33%, in 2020. Those figures show why Sartin’s past conviction became part of the investigative picture, without settling the new case on its own.
The criminal complaint was filed on October 14, 2026, and the Department of Justice announced the charges two days later, on October 16. As it stands, Sartin faces federal charges, not a conviction. The case will move through the federal court system in the Middle District of Florida, where prosecutors will need to present evidence beyond the disguise and prior history to prove the allegations.
Sources:
reddit.com, justice.gov, whmi.com, people.com, foxnews.com
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