DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A Port Orange man who robbed a bank in December 2013 dressed as Santa Claus has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
Mark Neal London, 64, pleaded no contest to the felony charges stemming from his robbery of a Port Orange SunTrust Bank, the state attorney's office said on Friday.
Two days before Christmas, London went to the SunTrust on Nova Road in Port Orange dressed as Santa Claus and carrying a gift-wrapped box he purported to be a bomb.
He demanded money from the teller, threatening to detonate the bomb if she didn't comply, officials said. He was tracked down by police, arrested and his house was searched.
London was convicted of robbery, displaying a hoax bomb, possession of a schedule I substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
London faced a maximum possible penalty of 35 years in prison, but a plea deal capped the maximum penalty at 10 years in prison.