The ICE agent impersonator who beat and robbed a 51-year-old Hispanic woman and tried to rape her in a Brooklyn Heights building has been busted, police said Thursday
Police identified him as Leon Howell, 43, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was charged with rape, robbery, assault, burglary and criminal possession of stolen property.
The victim was in the lobby of a building near Montague and Henry Sts. when she was confronted by the suspect about 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, police said.
The victim, who was waiting for her cab to arrive, tried to leave, but the attacker prevented her from doing so, then claimed he was a fed, police said.
“He said he was with immigration,” a police source said of the assailant.
But the attacker was clearly an impersonator, police said. He did not show the victim any identification as he dragged her to the elevator, riding with her down to the basement, where he repeatedly punched her in the face and knocked her to the ground.
At that point, the assailant took off the victim’s pants and underwear but she begged him to stop. He ran off with her chain, cellphone and purse, cops said.
Although a police source initially said the attacker did stop and flee after the woman begged him not to rape her, a police spokesperson on Thursday said, “The perpetrator’s actions pretty much fit the rape category within the law.”
The victim was taken to a local hospital to be treated for cuts to her face and scratches and bruises on her body.
The NYPD on Wednesday released surveillance footage of the attacker.