PORT ORANGE, Fla. — A man who dressed up like Santa Claus and robbed a Volusia County bank two days before Christmas expressed regret on Friday before being sentenced to eight years in prison.
Mark London's crime was recorded on surveillance video, showing him with a fake beard and hat as he held a present claiming there was a bomb in it.
The robbery went down at the SunTrust Bank on Nova Road in Port Orange.
At first, tellers thought London was joking when he walked into the bank, but they quickly became scared when they thought he had a bomb and demanded $25,000.
The bank teller was able to clearly identify the 64-year-old despite his Santa get-up.
"Did he have something with him?" asked the assistant state attorney.
"Yes, a package," the woman said.
"Wrapped, present-looking package?" asked the assistant state attorney.
"Yup, with a light on it and an antenna coming out of it," the woman said.
The light and wrapping paper eventually led Port Orange police to London. Reports show authorities identified London by tracking down where he purchased the items days before the robbery.
When they caught up with him, London admitted to robbing the bank because he lost his job and had financial troubles. He also claimed he suffered from bi-polar disorder.
"I was not in my right mind when I robbed the Suntrust Bank," he said.
London also acknowledged he was wrong for playing Santa during a heinous act two days before Christmas.
"I was very ashamed of using Santa's image to hide my identity and for causing fear and pain for the bank employees," he said.
The judge didn't buy London's reasoning that he had mental issues or financial troubles because he lived for over 60 years with his condition, and lived in an apartment and drove a luxury car.
London did get a break because he has no criminal history. He said he's also a grandfather and was once a commercial real estate executive.
WFTV
