Through the work of a criminal squad recently created to help thwart violence against Asian American business owners, the FBI caught two men who on Oct. 14 admitted their role in the robbery, FBI spokesman J.J. Klaver said.
The two, Terrance Downing and Tyree Mansell, named Toppings, according to the FBI. Downing, who admitted to multiple robberies that targeted Asian American business owners, said they stole close to $200,000 in the Havertown home invasion, according to a federal complaint. Downing and Mansell are in custody, charged in connection with the robbery.
The FBI recently formed a task force with the Philadelphia police to help address the rash of violent robberies against Asian American business owners. Authorities can inflict stiffer penalties on offenders by charging them under the federal Hobbs Act, which criminalizes interference with interstate commerce, Klaver said.
"We've had guys getting 30, 40, 50 years. We've had guys in Hobbs Act robberies get life," he said. "Quite frankly, it's one of the incentives these guys have when we get them into custody to cooperate: They know they are facing a pretty serious federal conviction on this crime."
Toppings is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 150 pounds, with tattoos on his right forearm. His last known addresses were on the 5400 block of Diamond Street and the 300 block of North 55th Street. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information about Toppings' whereabouts is asked to call the FBI at 215-418-4000. A reward may be offered for information leading to his capture, and tipsters can remain anonymous.
Contact staff writer Joelle Farrell at 610-627-0352 or jfarrell@phillynews.com.
