3 charged in home-invasion heist in Upper Darby

By MICHAEL HINKELMAN, hinkelm@phillynews.com 215-854-2656
Posted: December 10, 2010

Federal authorities charged three Philadelphia men yesterday with conspiracy, robbery and the use of firearms in connection with the home-invasion robbery of an Asian business owner.

Terrance Lydell Downing, 33; Tyree Eric Mansell, 27, and Nyfis Toppings, 24, followed the owner of K & C Beverage Store in Upper Darby on Aug. 8 from the store to his Havertown residence, each armed with a loaded handgun, the indictment said.

The owner kept the proceeds of his business in his home, court papers said.

About 2:30 a.m., the trio allegedly broke into the owner's home through a rear window leading into the kitchen.

Once inside, Downing, Mansell and Toppings donned masks and bandannas to hide their faces, the indictment said.

Authorities allege that the men forced the owner at gunpoint to show them where his money was, took $60,000 from a safe in a bedroom closet and fled.

Downing and Mansell were arrested by federal agents on Oct. 15. Toppings surrendered to the FBI on Nov. 23. All are being held at the Federal Detention Center in Center City pending trial.

If convicted of all charges, each faces a mandatory minimum of seven years behind bars.

Federal and local authorities are crediting a multijurisdictional task force that was formed as a result of an Asian home-invasion robbery binge in Delaware County that began about two years ago.

Authorities say robbers target Asian business owners because the robbers believe that their victims don't use banks.

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