Authorities have arrested and charged a man who allegedly impersonated a federal immigration officer during a robbery earlier this month in Mayfair.
Robert Rosado, 54, is accused of identifying himself as law enforcement as he entered a car repair shop June 8 on the 6400 block of Harbison Avenue. He zip-tied a 50-year-old woman and took about $1,000 in cash, according to police.
During the incident, he wore a black baseball hat bearing the American flag; a tactical vest with the words “Security Enforcement Agent”; black sunglasses; and dark green cargo pants, investigators said. Rosado allegedly fled the scene in a white van with tinted windows.
He yelled “immigration” as he entered the business, 6abc reported, citing information from police at the scene. A PPD spokesperson confirmed to Metro that he posed as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.
The robbery coincides with an aggressive push from the Trump administration to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. Videos and images of ICE agents have proliferated on social media and in television news reports.
Rosado has been charged with robbery, firearm violations, impersonating law enforcement and a bevy of other crimes. His bail was set Thursday at 10% of $400,000, according to court documents.
The public defender’s association, which is representing him, did not respond to a request for comment.
Court records show that Rosado has five previous robbery convictions dating back to 1990. He most recently pleaded guilty to the offense four years ago and was sentenced to 23 months incarceration and two years of probation.
