Staten Island Resident Arrested for Impersonating Red Cross Workers

In the midst of a disaster, some people will take advantage of the moment and use it as a distraction that will allow them to pillage and burglarize homes. Recently, one man in Staten Island used the disaster of Hurricane Sandy to achieve this end. The man pretended that he was an American Red Cross worker and attempted to burglarize evacuated homes during the relief effort when he was allowed inside. The criminal’s name is Alfonso Manzo, and he wore a red and white Red Cross jacket as he went about his crime. He would peer into windows and then allegedly tried to get into a variety of residencies to steal money and possessions.

When confronted, Manzo insisted that he was a volunteer with the Red Cross. There was no documentation to support these claims, which made the police in New York suspicious. Eventually, they brought the man in to custody, where he admitted that he hadn’t been aiding the Red Cross. He was carrying six white pills when he was arrested, which the police suspect were methadone. He was charged with second-degree criminal impersonation and was also given an additional charge of seventh-degree criminal possession of methadone.

This is not Manzo’s first crime, and he allegedly has a record that backs all the way back to 1986. He was arrested earlier this year when he stole a Chevy from a repair shop and drove it to a nearby casino. That time, the police charged Manzo with grand larceny. If you have been charged with impersonating and American Red Cross worker or have been suspected of burglary, then you need to contact an attorney right away to help you with your case! Contact a White Plains criminal defense lawyer right away for more information!