Who Were Those Masked Men? Thank-You Note to Mask Maker Helps Cops ID Robbery Suspects
A federal prosecutor says two suspects in a $200,000 robbery of a New York City check-cashing store initially eluded authorities, with the help of hyper-realistic masks that helped them disguise themselves as men in police uniforms.
But a thank-you note emailed by one suspect to the company that manufactured the masks helped authorities make a case against Edward Byam, 24, and Akeem Monsalvatge, 37, reports the New York Post.
Tipped that the two men and a third unidentified suspect appeared to be wearing high-end silicone specialty masks, police contacted a likely seller. The store shared a recent email in which Byam complimented the realism of the masks, which are supposed to be used for entertainment purposes.
Also of assistance in tracking the two down was a photo dropped at the robbery scene of the home of an employee of the check-cashing store, which had been shown to her at the time of the crime to make clear that the robbers knew where she lived, the newspaper recounts. Police traced it to a nearby pharmacy where it had been printed, and also allegedly recovered a receipt with Byam’s phone number.
An earlier New York Daily News article provides additional details about the case, which is being prosecuted in federal court in Brooklyn.
Hat tip: Daily Mail.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “‘Hyper-Realistic’ Mask Results in Arrest of Wrong Suspect; His Own Mom Was Fooled, Lawman Says”
