San Diego Man Charged with Robbing Wells Fargo Bank

The FBI and San Diego Police Department (SDPD) are announcing the arrest of Farhad Ahmad Aliyar, age 24, as a result of the investigation into the robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank located at 9996 Scripps Ranch Boulevard in San Diego, California, on Tuesday, January 29, 2013.

Aliyar was arrested on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, by SDPD officers following the robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank located at 9996 Scripps Ranch Boulevard in San Diego, California, that occurred at approximately 1:20 p.m.

Aliyar has been charged via a federal complaint with one count of violating Title 18, United States Code, 2113, bank robbery, case number 13MJ0354. According to the federal complaint, on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at approximately 1:20 p.m., the Wells Fargo Bank located at 9996 Scripps Ranch Boulevard in San Diego, California, was robbed by an unknown male.

At the time of the robbery, an unknown male armed with a handgun approached the victim teller and verbally demanded money. The victim teller provided the robber a sum of money, which was placed in a backpack.

Witnesses observed the robber fleeing the bank in a grey-colored Chrysler 300 sedan. A search of the surrounding neighborhoods by responding SDPD officers located the vehicle at a nearby hotel. SDPD officers and detectives established a surveillance and subsequently observed the suspect get into a taxi cab and proceed to go south on I-15. A vehicle stop was conducted at which time Aliyar and another individual were detained.

Aliyar was transported to SDPD Headquarters where he was interviewed by an FBI agent and an SDPD detective who investigate bank robberies. According to the complaint, Aliyar confessed to the robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank. Aliyar also confessed to four other bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery over the course of approximately two months.

Aliyar is currently being detained at the Bureau of Prisons Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in San Diego, California. Aliyar is expected to have his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on or about Thursday, January 31, 2013.

This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California, San Diego, California.

Anyone with information concerning this bank robbery is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 565-1255 or Crime Stoppers (888) 580-8477.

An arrest itself is not evidence that the defendant committed crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.