THE DAILY BS: HOW MUCH CAN YOU HANDLE?
(U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida)
SPARE ME THE BS (I’ve got things to do).
- Federal prosecutors say David Sartin, 40, robbed two Florida banks wearing a prosthetic old-man mask and escaped using a bicycle and getaway vehicle.
- Investigators say he later spray-painted his car’s white roof black, apparently changing its appearance.
- A search allegedly uncovered a journal titled “God’s Best friend is a Bank Robber!” bearing Sartin’s name.
LAY IT ON ME (I’ve got time).
Florida has given us another remarkable entry in the criminal-disguise department.
Federal prosecutors say a 40-year-old St. Petersburg man robbed two banks while disguised as an elderly gentleman, made his getaway on a bicycle, changed his vehicle’s appearance and kept a manuscript about being a bank robber.
Apparently, the autobiography couldn’t wait.
David Sartin faces two federal bank robbery charges involving a Largo bank on August 24 and a St. Petersburg bank on September 15.
According to prosecutors, Sartin entered both banks wearing a prosthetic “old man” mask, approached the teller and demanded cash without dye packs.
For the first robbery, investigators say he drove to a nearby location, switched to a bicycle, and pedaled to the bank. After obtaining the money, the disguised robber allegedly rode back to his waiting vehicle and drove away.
For the second robbery, surveillance footage reportedly captured a vehicle leaving Sartin’s residence and returning afterward, with someone unloading a bicycle.
Then came a particularly memorable bit of alleged automotive customization.
“The next day, investigators observed Sartin spray paint the vehicle’s white roof black, making the entire vehicle appear black in color,” federal prosecutors said.
Investigators searched his home and storage unit, reporting the discovery of a bicycle, clothing, bags, a fake handgun, and disguise materials matching those seen in surveillance footage.
Among the items was an old-man mask.
But the strangest discovery may have been a journal found at another residence where Sartin occasionally stayed. Its title: “God’s Best friend is a Bank Robber! Uncle Henry Cops and Robbers the world through the eyes of a Bank Robber.”
The manuscript was reportedly dated January 1, 2021, and identified its author as David Sartin. One page reportedly featured a drawing of a character holding a mask.
And here’s the detail that makes the entire case even more unusual.
Prosecutors say Sartin was on supervised release for a previous federal conviction involving five Texas bank robberies committed in 2016. Authorities allege he used a similar disguise in those crimes. He also has an earlier attempted bank robbery conviction dating to 2008.
Sartin now faces up to 20 years in prison on each new bank robbery count if convicted.
