HONOLULU – A cunning bandit 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 – will wear the orange jumpsuit of a federal prisoner for the next seven-and-a-half years.
Michael Rosario, Jr., dubbed the “Master of Disguises Bandit,” on Monday was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, with a year-and-a-half credit for time served, and ordered to pay $29,905 in restitution.
The 42-year-old Rosario, who hit Hickam FCU facilities on five occasions – 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, and 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 weapons he brandished during the robberies included a Swiss army knife, box cutters and a stun gun.
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.
