Two Romanian nationals have been charged with hate crimes after posing as federal agents and robbing Hispanic residents in Orange County. Authorities identified the suspects as Laurent Tuba and Alexandru Vassily, who are believed to be in the U.S. illegally with the intention of committing crimes.
Modus Operandi of the Suspects
The suspects allegedly targeted Hispanic street vendors and laborers, exploiting their fear of deportation. They approached victims, flashing fake badges and immigration paperwork, and pretended to be ICE or FBI agents. The men demanded to see identification and wallets under the pretense of checking for counterfeit cash. Once they claimed the money was counterfeit, they confiscated the victims’ cash.
Evidence and Arrest
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office reported that the suspects, who speak Spanish, threatened victims with deportation if they refused to hand over money and debit cards. One defendant told law enforcement they targeted Hispanic victims because they believed they had cash, were not smart, and were fearful of their immigration status.
Investigators tracked down the suspects using a partial license plate obtained by a victim who was suspicious of their identity. This lead connected the suspects to other crimes. In total, 11 victims reported incidents occurring in June across Orange County, including Anaheim, Westminster, and Tustin.
Legal Proceedings
The men were charged with felony counts of second-degree robbery and felony hate crime enhancements. Investigators also discovered a gun in the suspects’ car during one of the robberies and believe the men have ties to Romanian organized crime. The suspects are currently held without bail and are scheduled to appear in court on July 2nd.