Costumed robbery suspect is indicted
A federal grand jury has indicted a man suspected of robbing 12 banks and a convenience store in the past year by donning various disguises, including dressed as a woman.
A federal complaint filed Oct. 3 initially charged Michael Rosario Sr. in connection with three bank robberies.
The 13-count indictment filed yesterday includes nine other bank or credit union robberies that Honolulu police had linked Rosario to, including three each in April and June.
The remaining count charges Rosario with robbery or extortion that affects interstate or foreign commerce. He is accused of threatening and robbing an employee of cash at the Gooses Edge in Waipio Gentry in May.
Rosario pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday in U.S. District Court. A detention hearing is scheduled for next week.
Rosario, a sandblaster and painter, was arrested Oct. 4 at his workplace at Pacific Diversified Finishes Inc. on Sand Island Access Road. He had gone to pick up his last paycheck, telling his boss that he needed the money to buy his two boys gifts before turning himself in to authorities.
He told his boss he robbed the banks because he needed to pay multiple rents: one for his estranged wife and two younger sons, another for his teenage son and a third for him and his girlfriend.
According to the indictment, Rosario is charged with the following robberies:
» Hickam Federal Credit Union, Kapolei branch, on Dec. 19.
» Central Pacific Bank, Royal Kunia branch, on Dec. 22.
» American Savings Bank, Mililani branch, on April 14.
» Hickam Federal Credit Union, Kapolei branch, on April 25.
» Hawaii National Bank, airport branch, on April 28.
» American Savings Bank, Pearl City branch, on May 18.
» Central Pacific Bank, Kaneohe branch, on June 2.
» Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, Pearlridge branch, on June 19.
» Hickam Federal Credit Union, Pearlridge branch, on June 29.
» Hickam Federal Credit Union, Kapolei branch, on July 14.
» Hickam Federal Credit Union, Pearlridge branch, on Aug. 25.
» Central Pacific Bank, Keeaumoku branch, on Sept. 22.
» Gooses Edge on May 28.
He is charged with being armed with a weapon in at least 10 of the robberies.