Three men allegedly approached a Newark woman’s apartment claiming to be FBI agents. Police say that after she opened the door, they rushed inside, pushed her onto a couch and stole $7,500 from a bedroom safe.
Samuel Prata, 42, of Newark, was arrested Oct. 1 in connection with the Aug. 27 home invasion. The Newark Department of Public Safety identified him as one of the three men accused of posing as federal agents.
Prata faces charges of burglary, theft, criminal restraint, impersonating a public servant and conspiracy. Police are continuing to seek the other three people they say were involved, including a fourth suspect who remained outside in a getaway vehicle.
The home invasion happened at approximately 2:30 p.m. at a third-floor apartment on Mott Street near Raymond Boulevard in Newark’s Ironbound section.
Three Men Allegedly Claimed They Were Federal Agents
Newark Public Safety’s original Sept. 1 release says three men entered the victim’s building and knocked on her apartment door while claiming to be federal agents and demanding that she let them inside.
When the woman opened the door, police said the men rushed into the apartment and pushed her down onto a couch.
One suspect was described as light-skinned and wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. Police said he held the woman down while the other two accomplices, who were masked, searched the residence.
Police Say $7,500 Was Taken From a Bedroom Safe
Investigators said the group took $7,500 from a safe in the bedroom along with two credit cards from the woman’s purse.
The three men then left the building and entered a black Toyota Camry Solara driven by a fourth suspect, according to Newark Public Safety. Police said the vehicle had out-of-state license plates and was last seen traveling east on Fleming Avenue.
The department’s original release also included surveillance images of people police wanted identified, several views of the Camry and photographs of a shuttle bus that investigators said might be connected to the home invasion.
Newark Police Later Identified Samuel Prata
In its Oct. 1 arrest update, Newark Public Safety identified Prata as one of the three men accused of posing as FBI agents during the home invasion.
The department announced charges of burglary, theft, criminal restraint, impersonating a public servant and conspiracy.
The charges against Prata are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Police Are Still Searching for Three Other Suspects
Newark police continue to seek the other three people they say participated in the home invasion.
The department’s Oct. 1 release republishes surveillance images associated with the investigation, including the remaining suspects and the black Toyota Camry Solara used to leave the area.
Anyone with information can contact the Newark Police Division’s 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS, or 1-877-695-8477. Newark Public Safety says anonymous tips are confidential and may qualify for a reward.
FBI Newark Says Federal-Agent Claims Should Be Verified Independently
Two days before Newark police announced Prata’s arrest, the FBI’s Newark field office issued a separate warning about criminals impersonating federal law-enforcement officers in New Jersey.
The warning focuses on schemes involving tactics such as spoofed government phone numbers and the names of real federal agents. FBI Newark advises people who receive suspicious claims of federal authority to independently find the agency’s official phone number and contact the agency directly to verify the person’s identity.
For an immediate physical threat, the FBI’s general threat guidance says to call 911. Threats connected to possible federal crimes can also be reported to an FBI field office or through tips.fbi.gov.