2 arrested in August home invasion in Havertown

Two men were arrested in Philadelphia last week and charged with an August home invasion of an Asian business owner that netted nearly $200,000 cash from a safe, authorities said.

The men told federal agents they were involved in a series of home invasions targeting Asian business owners, according to an FBI affidavit filed Friday, so more charges are likely.

Early last month, authorities issued a public warning about Asian business owners being robbed because criminals believe they carry or hoard large amounts of cash.

Terrance Downing, 30, and Tyree Mansell, 31, both of Philadelphia, were charged with robbery and using firearms during the commission of a felony in the home invasion that occurred about 2:30 a.m. Aug. 8 in Havertown, the FBI said.

A group of masked gunmen entered the home through a rear kitchen window and demanded money from the family. The gunmen fled the home with a large amount of cash.

Family members called 911 and told police that they owned a beer distributorship in Upper Darby and that the cash in their house was from the business.

Based on information from a confidential source, the FBI said, it began tailing a gray BMW and a blue Chevrolet Impala. Agents saw men from those cars break into two Philadelphia residences.

Based on the surveillance, the FBI and Philadelphia police stopped the vehicles last Thursday and arrested Downing and Mansell, as well as two other men who were not immediately charged.

The FBI said Downing provided a written signed statement admitting to "multiple home invasion robberies of business owners who were Asian," including the one in Havertown.

Downing said they took nearly $200,000 in that robbery, according to the FBI. He said they targeted Asians because they kept a lot of cash.

Mansell also said they targeted Asians because they kept large amounts of cash in their home since they "did not trust banks."