Phony immigration agent busted

[ck4829]

A 33-year-old man who allegedly posed as an immigration agent and preyed on at least nine Latino immigrants in El Monte and Rosemead has been booked on suspicion of robbery and kidnapping, authorities said Monday.

Noel Gutierrez of El Monte used a commanding voice and a shirt and hat that read ICE to convince people he was with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement before he stole their cash and cellphones, said El Monte Police Det. Ralph Batres.

On Saturday about 4 p.m., Gutierrez rounded up six men in the parking lot of El Monte’s Valley Mall after asking about their immigration status and identification cards, Batres said.

Gutierrez allegedly told the men to put their wallets and cellphones in a plastic bag and walk toward the mall, where another immigration officer would question them further. The men complied and Gutierrez left in the opposite direction, police said.

A day after the arrest, Batres said he received a call from an El Monte woman who had also allegedly been robbed by Gutierrez. Batres believes there are more victims who are too scared to come forward.

“Anytime you’re contacted by anyone who appears to be law enforcement, you should ask to see their I.D.,” he said. “If you don’t believe they’re an actual officer, then that’s when you call the police for verification.”

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/06/man-allegedly-posing-as-immigration-agent-arrest.html

I doubt this is the only man taking advantage of this climate of fear and xenophobia.