Krasner Ties Fake ICE Agent Robbery To Trump Immigration Policies

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia's top prosecutor is targeting President Donald Trump's administration after a local man posed as an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agent to commit a robbery, during which he tied up a 50-year-old woman.

Robert Rosado, 54, of Philadelphia, was arrested and charged with impersonating a public servant, false imprisonment, robbery, terroristic threats, firearm violations, theft, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, receiving stolen property, unlawful restraint, and more crimes.

The charges came after a June 8 robbery at a Northeast Philadelphia business.

Rosado during the crime was wearing a black baseball cap with the United States flag on the front, black sunglasses, a black long sleeve shirt, gloves, a black tactical vest with "Security Enforcement Agent" on it, dark green cargo pants, a black radio, a badge and chain around his neck, and a holstered handgun

"The policies coming from the current administration in Washington, D.C., are making it easier for U.S. citizens to commit crimes against marginalized people, such as immigrants," Krasner said. "I consider this case to be more serious than just a robbery. This is a crime against an entire community of people."

According to authorities, Rosado went into the Auto Center store located on the 6500 block of Harbison Avenue.

Once inside, he announced himself as an immigration agent and that he was going to take undocumented employees into custody, according to the DA's office.

Authorities said Rosado then used zip ties to bind the hands of an employee before taking about $1,000 from the store and fleeing the area in an unmarked white van.

Investigators obtained the license plate information from the vehicle through surveillance footage after canvassing the neighborhood.

They determined that the vehicle was registered to Rosado.

Federal authorities helped local investigators in finding properties connected to Rosado, who then obtained search warrants for two locations.

A fake badge, black radio, holster, an airsoft gun, and zip ties were recovered as a result of these warrants.

"My office will prosecute this case vigorously and we intend to seek a higher sentence for this defendant due to the nature of his crimes," Krasner said.

He thanked Philadelphia Police and the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force for their work on the investigation.

"I want to thank Philadelphia Police Detective Michael Zanetich and Officer Daniel Butler for their excellent work on this case," Assistant District Attorney Joe Lanuti, Assistant Supervisor of the Gun Violence Task Force, said. "As with all cases that are prosecuted by the GVTF, we fully intend to hold this defendant accountable for his crimes and to seek justice for the victims and larger community who were impacted by this defendant's actions."

Rosado is being held on $800,000 bail and is slated for a July 8 preliminary hearing.