Brothers Posed As Immigration Officers In Newark Robbery: Police

NEWARK, NJ — A pair of brothers from Parlin posing as immigration officers allegedly beat and robbed a man in Newark earlier this week. The brothers then assaulted a friend who tried to help the victim, authorities said.

According to the Newark Department of Public Safety, the robbery and beating took place around 1:30 a.m. on Monday, April 15 on McWhorter Street.

Kevin Caetano, 33, and his brother, Jonathan Caetano, 28, of Parlin, were arrested after police spotted their car, which was photographed at the robbery scene by a witness, authorities said.

According to police, two men were riding in a vehicle on McWhorter Street when a Hyundai Sonata cut them off and angled to a stop so they couldn’t pass. The victim said several men jumped out and approached his car, claiming they were immigration officers.

The men ordered the driver out of his car. But when he saw that they were dressed in civilian clothes without any police markings, he refused to comply, authorities said.

That’s when the men pulled the victim out of his car and punched him several times in the face, police said.

After the beating, the men rifled through their victim’s pockets and took his wallet, which contained $1,300 in cash. When a friend tried to come to the victim’s aid, he also got several punches in the face, police stated.

Police later charged the two alleged assailants – Kevin and Jonathan Caetano – and charged them with robbery and impersonating a law enforcement officer.

“This kind of crime puts unnecessary fear in our immigrant community,” Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said. “We responded quickly and made a quick arrest to help alleviate those fears.”

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