Celebrity Chef Accused Of Robbing SF Banks Now Facing Federal Charges

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A famous chef accused of robbing three banks in a single day last year is facing federal charges in connection with the crimes, according to an indictment.

The indictment filed on Wednesday by federal prosecutors charges Valentino Giovanni Luchin with two counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted robbery, along with a forfeiture allegation of returning any money obtained in the process of the crimes.

If convicted of the crimes, the Italian chef faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release and potential deportation, according to federal prosecutors.

Luchin was previously convicted in 2018 of robbing a Citibank in Orinda. That robbery happened years after Luchin came into financial troubles and was forced to close his Bay Area restaurant.

He then stole a combined few thousand dollars during a robbery spree on Sept. 10, 2025, from two banks in San Francisco and tried to rob a third one, according to federal prosecutors.

It's unclear if Luchin was carrying any weapons during the robberies. The San Francisco Police Department said he'd enter the banks and pass a note to an employee demanding money.

He was already facing charges from the San Francisco County District Attorney's Office before the federal indictment was filed.

San Francisco Deputy Public Defender representing Luchin is seeking to have him granted a mental health diversion to provide substance abuse care for his client, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Luchin previously worked as an executive chef at Rose Pistola in San Francisco and was the owner and chef of Ottavio in Walnut Creek, according to SFGate.