Philadelphia man faces charges after robbing auto repair shop while impersonating ICE agent

A Philadelphia man is facing charges after robbing an auto repair shop while impersonating a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, according to the district attorney's office.

Robert Rosado, 54, was charged on Monday by Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on 12 different counts, including robbery, theft, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint, terroristic threats, and impersonating a public servant.

Rosado on June 8 allegedly entered an Auto Center store in Philadelphia, announced that he was an immigration agent who was going to take illegal immigrant employees into custody, and zip-tied an employee's hands before taking approximately $1,000 from the store and fleeing in an unmarked white van.

According to surveillance video footage, he wore a black baseball cap, blue latex gloves, a tactical vest with the words “Security Enforcement Agent” on it, a black radio, a badge and chain around his neck, and a holstered handgun.

The surveillance video footage allowed the police to obtain the license plate information from Rosado's vehicle after canvassing the neighborhood. Federal law enforcement aided local police in finding Rosado's properties, who then obtained search warrants for two locations. The warrants allowed authorities to recover a fake badge, black radio, holster, an airsoft gun, and zip ties during their searches.

“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 in a statement on Monday.

“I consider this case to be more serious than just a robbery. This is a crime against an entire community of people. 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. Thank you to the Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force for their thorough investigation of this incident.”

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