SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A Bay Area celebrity chef is facing federal charges after allegedly robbing three banks in San Francisco last year.
Valentino Luchin, 62, is accused of using notes to demand cash back on September 2025.
Prosecutors say he was successful in two instances and took about $ 2,800. A third attempt was unsuccessful.
RELATED: Celebrity chef arrested for allegedly robbing 3 San Francisco banks on same day
Luchin was arrested in September and has plead not guilty to charges in San Francisco, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.
It’s not the first time the former executive chef of Italian North Beach-based restaurant Rose Pistola faced similar accusations.
RELATED: From jail, celebrity chef claims he robbed Orinda bank
Luchin was previously convicted in a 2018 bank robbery in Orinda in which he got away with more than $15,000.
ABC7’s Leslie Brinkley spoke to him at the time and he blamed his desperation for money after his former restaurant, Ottavio, closed down in 2016.
Copyright © 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Duncan Meyers, founder of BDJOBSTODAY, shares expert career advice, job market insights, and practical tips to help professionals grow and succeed in their careers.
