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Former Bay Area Chef Indicted in Alleged One-Day, Three-Bank Robbery Spree

The case now advances in federal court with a hearing set for Feb. 13.

Overview

  • On Jan. 7, a federal grand jury indicted Valentino Luchin on bank robbery and attempted bank robbery charges tied to incidents in San Francisco.
  • Luchin is accused of targeting three banks in one day by passing notes to tellers, with police reporting about $300 taken at one branch and roughly $2,500 at a Bank of America.
  • Authorities say a third attempted robbery nearby failed and officers later arrested Luchin at his San Francisco residence.
  • Luchin has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges following his September arrest.
  • Court and prior reporting show Luchin previously pleaded no contest in a 2018 Orinda bank robbery case after his restaurant closed and he filed for bankruptcy.