Milk High Cross-Dressers Busted In Robberies

Nov 7, 2003 1:30 pm US/Eastern
(1010 WINS) (NEW YORK) Five students at Harvey Milk High School were arrested on charges that they dressed up as female prostitutes and then impersonated undercover police officers to rob men in Greenwich Village, authorities said.

The five suspects, Gerald "Kimberly" Howard, Kevin "Keva" Williams, Brian "Whoopi" Gonzalez, Keenan "Chanel" Oliver and Kelvin "Keesha" Howell all attend the special school for gay, lesbian and transgendered students.

Police said the teenagers are implicated in six robberies between Oct. 5 and Nov. 6. They are accused of handcuffing men and taking their wallets, stealing amounts ranging from $85 to $1,200, police said.

In at least one case, the teenagers produced a "police-like badge" before robbing a 33-year-old man, police said.

The five were arrested on Thursday after plainclothes officers with a description of the suspects in the string of robberies saw one of the teenagers and took him into custody.

Police said they were charging the teenagers with robbery and criminal impersonation. An investigation was continuing, said Detective Carolyn Chew, a police spokeswoman.

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