Police arrest Raleigh man accused of impersonating ICE officer and sexually assaulting woman
A Raleigh man, Carl Thomas Bennett, has been arrested for allegedly impersonating a law enforcement officer to sexually assault a woman, threatening her with deportation if she refused.
Posted 1/28/2025, 2:37:33 AM Updated 1/28/2025, 4:01:38 PM
Raleigh man accused of impersonating ICE agent, threatening woman with deportation before sexually assaulting her
Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter
A man accused of sexually assaulting a woman after impersonating a law enforcement officer in Raleigh is in custody.
Raleigh Police charged 37-year-old Carl Thomas Bennett with multiple sex crimes and say he threatened to deport the victim if she didn’t take part in sexual acts with him.
Police said they located the victim at the Motel 6 on Sunday around 9 a.m.
Arrest warrants said Bennett "threatened to deport the victim if she did not have sex with him," and "displayed a business card with a badge on it."
WRAL News reached out U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the allegations made by Raleigh police officers.
Nikki Barin Baena, co-director of Siembra NC, shared her concern by what she said is a rise of scams targeting immigrants.
"This is kind of a perfect storm what's happening right now and it's opening up opportunities for people who are not doing any kind of law enforcement to take advantage of people in terrible ways," Baena said.
The grassroots organization, based in Greensboro, focuses on defending the rights of immigrants.
Police didn't specify the race or immigration status of the victim involved.
As false reports of ICE raids in the area ramped up over the weekend, Baena's not surprised by allegations of intimidation through impersonation.
"People wouldn't be surprised that an ICE agent acted in an inappropriate way because they often do act in inappropriate ways to get information out of people," she said.
Baena acknowledges the sense of fears some immigrants have with ICE but is on a mission to make them aware of their rights if an authentic agent does show up.
"You do not have to open the door unless the agent shows you a judicial warrant signed by a judge," Baena said.
Raleigh police officers have not yet shared if Bennett targeted any other victims.
To report suspected ICE activity in your area, call or text Siembra NC's hotline at 336-543-0353.
Para reportar sospechas de actividad de ICE en su área, llame o envíe un mensaje de texto a la línea directa de Siembra NC al 336-543-0353.
If you are a victim of sexual assault, contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or online.rainn.org. Wake County residents can call the InterAct sexual assault hotline at 919-828-3005 or 866-291-0853 (toll-free). Residents of Cumberland County can connect with a victim's advocate and access care and resources through the Phoenix Center. Call 910-485-7273.
RAINN ofrece apoyo gratuito y confidencial las 24 horas al día, 7 días por semana para los sobrevivientes de la violencia sexual y sus seres queridos. Llame a la Línea Nacional de Ayuda contra el Abuso Sexual en Línea al 800-656-4673.
Los residentes del condado de Wake pueden llamar a la línea directa de agresión sexual de InterAct al 919-828-3005 o al 866-291-0853 (línea gratuita). Los residentes del condado de Cumberland pueden conectarse con un defensor de víctimas y acceder a atención y recursos a través del Centro Phoenix. Llame al 910-485-7273.
Para obtener una lista de recursos de agresión sexual en Carolina del Norte, haga clic aquí.
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