A St. Petersburg man faces up to 20 years in federal prison after officials say he robbed two Pinellas County banks while wearing a prosthetic mask.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 40-year-old David Sartin, Jr. has a history of bank robberies. He was previously convicted in five bank robberies in Texas in 2016, and found guilty of attempted bank robbery in 2008. His signature move? A mask.
Officials say Sartin robbed a bank in Largo on Aug. 24, then, three weeks later, robbed another bank in St. Petersburg.
During both incidents Sartin allegedly entered the banks wearing a prosthetic “old man” mask, approached the teller and demanded money.
After the Largo robbery, officials say Sartin fled the scene on a bicycle before entering a car parked at a nearby gas station and driving away.
The same vehicle was reportedly seen on surveillance video leaving Sartin’s home before the St. Petersburg robbery on Sept. 15 and returning afterwards.
Video also showed a man matching Sartin’s description unloading a bicycle from the vehicle. The next day, the man was seen painting the vehicle’s roof black.
When investigators searched Sartin’s home they found a bicycle, a blue suit and other items similar to those used during both robberies. A search of his storage unit found disguise items including the mask, glasses, a hat, work gloves and a fake handgun.
Agents also searched a second residence where Sartin occasionally stayed. There they reportedly found a second mask and a journal titled “God’s Best friend is a Bank Robber!… written by: David Sartin.”
At the time of the Pinellas County robberies, Sartin was on supervised release for his conviction in the 2016 Texas robberies. He now faces two counts of bank robbery and faces up to 20 years in federal prison.