A Newark man is accused of impersonating a federal immigration officer to carry out a string of late-night robberies.
Newark police allege the suspect targeted two pedestrians during early morning hours, wearing an “ICE” emblem patch and wielding a flashlight. Authorities say he employed impersonation tactics in order to intimidate victims before stealing cash and personal belongings, according to NJ.com.
The first incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on January 22, when a man driving a dark-colored SUV, now identified as Julio Garcia Barrera, approached a pedestrian on North 8th Street. The driver allegedly exited the vehicle, shined a flashlight in the victim’s face, and claimed to be an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. After forcibly pinning the victim against their vehicle, he stole roughly $500 from his wallet and fled the scene…