A masked gunman ambushed a man at an East Colonial Drive bank ATM late one night in November 2025, robbing him at gunpoint and pistol-whipping him before fleeing with his cash, cards and phone. This week, that gunman, 31-year-old Victor Bertil, pleaded guilty to robbery with a firearm while wearing a mask and aggravated battery with a firearm, and a judge sentenced him to 12 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.
According to Orlando Police, the case began in November 2025 after the victim was robbed at gunpoint while making a bank deposit. Investigators say the attack unfolded around 12:20 a.m. on November 20, 2025, when the man tried to deposit $1,100 — $400 from a friend and $700 of his own money — into a drive-thru ATM, according to FOX 35 Orlando. A silver Nissan Rogue had followed him to the machine before the masked attacker struck, stealing his cash, cards, and phone and then hitting him in the head with the gun.
This week, Victor Bertil pleaded guilty to Robbery with a Firearm with a Mask and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm. He was sentenced to 12 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) August 31, 2026
The case began in November 2025 after a victim was robbed at gunpoint while making a bank… pic.twitter.com/MX1D092HjN
Fingerprints on a Dusty Hood Cracked the Case
Orlando Police have said surveillance video and fingerprint evidence led officers and detectives to Bertil. Per the same FOX 35 Orlando report, crime scene technicians lifted latent handprints off the dusty hood and door frame of the victim's car and matched them to Bertil after surveillance footage from a nearby business had already captured the gunman touching the outside of the vehicle during the robbery.
The victim told police that before the robbery, he had won a significant sum of cash at a gas station gaming room where he recognized Bertil working as a security guard, the station's report states. Detectives also verified that the getaway vehicle belonged to Bertil's girlfriend and turned up past traffic records showing Bertil driving that same car while wearing a security uniform, according to the outlet's account.
Arrest, Charges and a Mandatory Prison Term
Orlando Police arrested Bertil on January 12, 2026, charging him with robbery with a firearm while wearing a mask and aggravated battery with a firearm, per the FOX 35 Orlando report. He remained in custody until his guilty plea and sentencing this week. Investigators say they also uncovered the firearm used in the crime during their investigation, which Orlando Police credited as part of the work that helped bring justice to the victim.
The 12-year sentence reflects Florida's tough statutory framework for gun crimes. Under Florida Statute § 775.087, known as the 10-20-Life law, carrying or displaying a firearm during violent felonies like armed robbery or aggravated battery triggers a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, according to the Brancato Law Firm, which notes the law strips judges of discretion to sentence below that floor whenever a firearm is involved. Separately, Florida Statute § 775.0845 reclassifies crimes committed while wearing a mask or other identity-concealing device to a higher degree, enhancing the penalties prosecutors can pursue, per the Florida Senate. Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, meanwhile, is a second-degree felony under Florida Statute § 784.045 punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to Hanlon Law, which notes that striking someone with a gun's handle qualifies as aggravated battery under state law.
A Past Marked by Hardship, and a City Watching Crime Trends
Bertil's arrest is a stark turn from an earlier chapter of his life in Orlando. Back in December 2017, Bertil and his family were featured in local media coverage while living at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission shelter during a holiday toy drive shortage, with Bertil and his wife speaking to reporters at the time about working to recover from homelessness with their three children, per FOX 35 Orlando's earlier reporting.
The robbery and its resolution come as Orlando works to drive down violent crime citywide. WFTV reported that overall violent crime in Orlando fell 12% between 2023 and 2025, dropping from 6,754 to 5,928 incidents, while police also reported seizing 3,643 crime guns across the city over that same span. More recently, the Orlando Police Department reported that overall crime in Downtown Orlando dropped 20% between January and July 2026 compared to the same period a year earlier, crediting proactive enforcement and community safety initiatives for the decline.
Bertil's case adds to a string of recent Central Florida prosecutions tied to armed robberies and bank-related crimes, including Hoodline's coverage of an Altamonte Springs bank heist indictment. For investigators, the Bertil case stands as an example of how latent forensic evidence and Florida's statutory sentencing enhancements can combine to close out a violent crime months after it happened.
