Wells Fargo Bank Robber Arrested

San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter announces the arrest of Fred Jay Otto, age 58, of San Diego, California, on Wednesday, January 5, 2011.

Otto was arrested by FBI agents on Wednesday, January 5, 2011, at approximately 11:30 a.m., at the offices of the San Diego Federal Probation Office. Agents responded to the San Diego Federal Probation Office, after being notified that Otto had told his probation officer he was responsible for robbing a bank.

In a criminal complaint filed on January 6, 2011, in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, Otto is charged with robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, located at

401 B Street, Suite 101, San Diego, California

, on Monday, January 3, 2011, at approximately 9:00 a.m. During this robbery, the robber waited in the customer line for an available teller, approached the counter, and made a verbal demand for money. The robber also made a verbal threat of a weapon. The teller complied with the robber’s demands and handed the money to the robber.

On Wednesday, January 5, 2011, FBI agents received a call from the San Diego Federal Probation Office. Agents were advised that a federal probationer had come into the office and confessed to robbing a bank.

FBI agents responded to the Federal Probation Office and took custody of Fred Jay Otto. Otto was transported to the San Diego FBI Office, where he was interviewed and confessed to robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, located at

410 B Street, Suite 101, San Diego, California

, on Monday, January 3, 2011.

Following his arrest Otto was booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC). Otto is expected to make his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Friday, January 7, 2011. 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.