Guilty Plea Unmasks 'Master of Disguises' Bandit

HONOLULU – An armed assailant who dressed as everything from a nurse to a wounded soldier to rob 11 island institutions–including the same branch of Hickam FCU three times–is headed to prison after his conviction on 13 counts of bank robbery and brandishing a firearm.
 
Michael Rosario, Jr., dubbed the “Master of Disguises Bandit” for his cunning, agreed to plead guilty to the 13 counts just before New Year’s and is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on April 14.
 
The 42-year-old Rosario, who hit Hickam FCU facilities five times–including the same credit union branch in Kapolei three times–carried out his robberies wearing ingenious disguises, such as that of a wounded soldier, a loudly dressed woman, a construction worker and a nurse in hospital scrubs. His disguises included fake beards and mustaches, wigs, make-up, even false breasts.
 
Rosario also robbed branches of Hawaii State FCU, Central Pacific Bank (three times) American Savings Bank (twice) and the Gooses Edge convenience store.
 
The Master of Disguises eventually was identified by police by fingerprints left on teller demand notes which matched Rosario’s, who was on probation for domestic abuse charges.