Suspected serial bank robber jailed

A man, who recently resided in both San Clemente and Las Vegas, has been

arrested for a series of bank robberies attributed to a bank robber known as the "Red

Sharpie Bandit," so named based on the red magic marker used during his robberies, it

was announced today by law enforcement authorities with San Luis Obispo County, San

Barbara County and the FBI.

Anthony William Frisco, 44, was apprehended late last week by detectives with

the Santa Barbara Police Department, after detectives there received a tip generated

from the media coverage on the case. Throughout 2009, an unidentified male subject

meeting the description of the Red Sharpie Bandit was seen by witnesses and in various

bank surveillance photographs, and is suspected in as many as eleven bank robberies at

the following locations:

01/12/2009 Washington Mutual San Clemente

03/16/2009 Downey Savings Dana Point

05/11/2009 Chase Bank San Clemente

09/01/2009 Rabobank Pismo Beach

10/13/2009 Wachovia Bank Seal Beach

10/27/2009 Chase Bank San Luis Obispo

10/30/2009 U.S. Bank Dana Point

11/09/2009 Wachovia Bank Seal Beach

12/07/2009 Chase Bank San Clemente

12/14/2009 Wells Fargo San Luis Obispo

12/14/2009 Wells Fargo Nipomo

Currently, Frisco is in custody at the San Luis Obispo County jail on an armed

robbery charge. His bail has been set at $500,000. It is anticipated that Frisco will be

charged with as many as four counts of armed robbery in connection with robberies in

the cities of Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo and Nipomo.

The investigation into the robberies in Orange County is continuing and Frisco

may face addition charges at the state or federal level.

The robberies in San Luis Obispo County were investigated jointly by detectives

and agents with the San Luis Obispo Police Department; San Luis Obispo Sheriff's

Department; Pismo Beach Police Department; Santa Barbara Police Department and

the FBI. Frisco is expected to be charged by the District Attorney in San Luis Obispo

County. The bank robberies in Orange County are being investigated by the Orange

County Sheriff's Department, the FBI and police in the cities where banks were robbed.