U.S. Bank Robber Arrested
Man Self-Surrenders at Bank He Allegedly Held Up

San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter announces the arrest of Albert Joseph Wallake, age 75.

Wallake was taken into custody by San Diego Police Officers on Saturday, December 10, 2011, at approximately 10:30 a.m., at the U.S. Bank, 5407 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, California.

San Diego Police Officers responded to the bank after receiving a call that a man was there to turn himself in for previously robbing the bank. Upon arriving at the bank, Officers located and identified Wallake as the person self-surrendering. This bank was robbed on November 15, 2011 and December 2, 2011. Investigators had been looking into the possibility that the same suspect committed both robberies.

At the time of his arrest a federal complaint was on file charging Wallake with the November 15, 2011, robbery of the U.S. Bank, 5407 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, California. The complaint charged Wallake with violating one count of Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2113 (a) bank robbery.

According to the complaint, on Tuesday, November 15, 2011, at approximately 9:35 a.m., the U.S. Bank, 5407 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, California, was robbed by an unknown male. According to witnesses an older white male (hereinafter referred to as the robber) entered the bank through the south-facing entrance and walked up to a teller. Upon arriving at the teller counter, the robber lifted up his shirt to reveal a gun in his waistband. The robber placed his right hand on the gun and tapped on it, while demanding money from the teller. The teller being concerned for her personal safety placed a sum of money on the counter. The robber took the money off of the counter and ran out of the bank through the same door he originally entered through. Witnesses outside of the bank saw the robber enter a car parked near the bank. The robber drove away from the bank at a high rate of speed eastbound on Balboa Avenue.

On the same day of the robbery, the FBI issued a news release containing bank surveillance photographs to the media seeking the public’s assistance to identify the bank robber. The bank surveillance photographs were posted on media web pages and aired on several television channels. At approximately 9:00 p.m., a man contacted the San Diego Police Department who stated he saw the news regarding the bank robbery. The man identified the robber as Albert Joseph Wallake. Additional investigation by San Diego Police Department robbery detectives and FBI agents led to Wallake being charged with the November 15, 2011, robbery of the U.S. Bank, 5407 Balboa, San Diego, California.

Following his arrest on Saturday, December 10, 2011, Wallake was booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC). On Monday, December 12, 2011, Wallake had his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Following his initial appearance Wallake was returned to MCC where he remains in custody. Since Wallake has been charged with violating federal bank robbery laws, this case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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.