Celebrity chef arrested for allegedly robbing 3 San Francisco banks on same day

SAN FRANCISCO -- A Bay Area celebrity chef was arrested for allegedly robbing three banks in San Francisco on the same day - and it's not the first time he's faced similar accusations.

The 62-year-old former executive chef at the Italian restaurant Rose Pistola was arrested last week, according to the San Francisco Police Department. He is accused of passing notes to bank tellers and demanding money before fleeing each location.

Police did not disclose how much money he took from each bank. The 62-year-old was booked on robbery charges.

Back in 2019, the same chef was arrested for a different bank robbery in Orinda, in which he got away with over $15,000.

We spoke to him at the time and he blamed his desperation for money after his former restaurant, Ottavio, closed down in 2016.

ABC7 has decided not to name the suspect since he has not been formally charged.