19-year-olds pose as ICE agents to rob Latinos across the West, California police say

Two 19-year-olds posed as immigration agents to rob Latinos, possibly across the western United States, California police reported.

The two men spoke Spanish, flashed fake badges and falsely identified themselves as ICE agents to demand money, targeting Latino victims, Anaheim police said in a June 24 news release.

Investigators are seeking additional victims of the men, who are accused of robbing people in Anaheim, Orange County and the West, police said.

Officers responded to two robberies Thursday, June 20, in Anaheim and realized the robberies were connected, police said.

A few hours later, investigators found the vehicle used in the robberies in Fullerton, police said.

Laurentiu Baceanu and Vasile Alexandru, both 19, were arrested on charges including robbery, police said. They are being held without bail.

Investigators say the two robbed multiple people using several vehicles, including a silver or gray Volkswagen Atlas SUV and a blue Audi Q7 SUV.

Police ask anyone with information on the crimes to contact Detective John Carey at 714-765-1973. Police told the Los Angeles Times that undocumented victims can report a crime without worrying about their immigration status because the “department does not cooperate with federal ICE officials.”

Anaheim is about a 25-mile drive southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

This story was originally published June 25, 2024 at 12:53 PM with the headline "19-year-olds pose as ICE agents to rob Latinos across the West, California police say."