Serial 'Old Man' Bank Robber Allegedly Strikes Again

A year after his release from prison, a serial bank robber known for wearing an "old man" mask has allegedly struck again. Federal prosecutors allege 40-year-old David Sartin Jr. of St. Petersburg robbed two Tampa-area banks in August and September while wearing rubber elderly-face masks similar to those used in five Texas bank heists that landed him in prison in 2018, the Washington Post reports. Police claim he was on supervised release when he forced a teller to hand over roughly $3,000 in cash in Largo on Aug. 24, escaping with the words, "Until we meet again."

Three weeks later, authorities say Sartin visited a Truist Bank in St. Petersburg in the same disguise: a mask with gray facial hair, a hat, sport jacket, glasses, and gloves. This time, the teller who handed over about $2,500 noted that he "did not move like an old man would." Police ultimately traced a vehicle linked to the Largo heist—allegedly the same one used in the Texas robberies, per WTVT—to Sartin's father. A search of Sartin's storage unit and his father's home allegedly turned up masks, a fake gun, clothing, and a journal entry reading, "God's Best friend is a Bank Robber!" Sartin, who also served time for attempted bank robbery in Mississippi, now faces up to 20 years in prison on each of two federal counts.