DOJ says Florida man wore realistic ‘old man’ mask to pull off bank heists

In a case of life imitating the movies (or at least a Scooby-Doo episode), the DOJ has said that a Florida man pulled off bank heists wearing a realistic ‘old man’ mask. David Sartin Jr. has been charged in connection with two bank robberies in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area; if convicted, he could face up to 40 years of prison time.

Sartin allegedly burgled a bank in Largo on August 24, 2026, and another in St. Petersburg on September 15, 2026. However, when he did so, he wore an incredibly realistic prosthetic mask that aged him considerably and made him unrecognizable.

Surveillance footage helped track down Sartin despite his changed appearance

When Sartin approached the tellers at the banks he robbed, he told them not to put dye packs in the cash he demanded. However, despite the lack of dye packs and his older appearance, authorities were still able to track Sartin by following his movements via surveillance footage.

Before the robbery on August 24, according to Fox 4, Sartin drove a vehicle to a gas station, parked, and switched to a bicycle. He allegedly rode the bike to commit the robbery, then back to his vehicle, which he then drove to his home.

On the day of the other robbery he was accused of committing, a vehicle left and returned to Sartin’s home, where surveillance video showed a man who appeared to be him unloading a bike. The following day, Sartin reportedly painted the roof of his black SUV white.

When authorities finally moved in on Sartin, they searched his home, another residence, and a storage unit and discovered the ‘old man’ mask (which was far more impressive than the Mike Myers mask worn during a Florida liquor store robbery). They also found another prosthetic mask, a bicycle, dark-framed glasses, a black bag, and a fake handgun, among other items. Additionally, agents came across a handwritten journal with the title, “God’s Best friend is a Bank Robber! Uncle Henry Cops and Robbers the world through the eyes of a Bank Robber.”

Sartin has a history of alleged bank robbing

Sartin’s alleged bank robberies in Florida wouldn’t be the first time he’s been connected to such crimes or the method of wearing elaborate masks to do them rather than the stereotypical hat and mask combo seen in other bank robberies.

At the time he was purportedly robbing the Florida banks, he was out on supervised release after spending 10 years and a month in federal prison for a conviction in 2018 that involved five bank robberies in Texas in 2016. In the robberies he was convicted for, authorities said he used the same vehicle and a similar mask. Additionally, Sartin was convicted in 2008 in federal court for a bank robbery attempt that involved disguises and Halloween masks.

As for the most recent alleged bank robberies, authorities did not reveal the amount of money stolen nor whether anyone was injured during the incidents. The St. Petersburg Police Department, the Largo Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation.

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