326: Vito Roselli with Chris Booker – West Philly Bank Robbery Conspiracy

Artwork for FBI Retired Case File Review podcastIn this episode, retired agent Vito Roselli reviews his investigation of a West Philly bank robbery conspiracy operated by violent crew members responsible for robberies in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and South New Jersey suburbs and the vicious home invasion assault of an elderly couple.

One of Vito’s subjects, Chris Booker, convicted of multiple violations, including bank robbery and murder, takes part in the case review with Vito. Chris and Vito first met after Chris was arrested in Atlantic City, New Jersey, when guns and drugs were found by a maid cleaning his hotel room.

Special Agent (Retired)

Vito Roselli

2/1997 – 3/2023

Retired agent Vito RoselliVito Roselli served in the FBI for 26 years. He was assigned to the Philadelphia Division where he worked violent crime and fugitives as a field agent for over 19 years and as program manager and supervisor for seven years. During his career, Vito dismantled drug gangs with international ties and some of the most violent robbery crews in the northeast region.

As a SWAT operator, Vito was deployed to national and international hot spots engaging in high-risk arrest operations, including in the counter terror mission following the 9/11 attacks. Vito twice deployed to the Iraqi war zone (2006 and 2008) where he embedded with the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). His interview and intelligence gathering skills contributed to the destruction of the world’s most dangerous terror cells.

As a manager and leader, Vito mentored hundreds of squad mates and subordinates, and represented the FBI brand to foreign security agencies, law enforcement departments nationwide, and the private sector. Based on his expertise, he was called in for critical incidents for the FBI National Command Center spearheading high-priority operations.

After his retirement, Vito moved to southeast Florida, and is working in the cyber security field for Restaurant Brands International.

Chris Booker won an appeal of his conviction and was released from prison in 2021. He currently is a truck driver with his CDL and an author of over forty urban crime novels. His book, Single Ladies: “Made to Love”, has been optioned for a TV series.

Bank security photos from West Philly Bank Robbery Conspiracy

The following are links to court documents about this violent West Philly bank robbery crew and the missing persons investigation of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone:

U.S. v. Harper

USA v. Humbert

U.S. v. Christopher Booker

U.S. v. Booker

FBI Website: FBI Bank Robbers App

To learn more about how the FBI investigates bank robberies, listen to these FBI Retired Case File Review episodes.

Artwork for There and Gone PodcastRetired agent Vito Roselli is prominently featured on the new podcast, There and Gone: South Street, where he reviews the biggest but unsolved case of his FBI career.

The series covers the case of Richard Petrone and Danielle Imbo. Richard and Danielle were last seen leaving a bar in Philadelphia, only to never be seen again. Nearly two decades later, they have never been found. The podcast team opens their own investigation on Richard and Danielle’s case with unprecedented access and cooperation from the FBI. (There’s also a few  times where I’m interviewed about media coverage of the case)

 

Jerri Williams

View posts by Jerri Williams
Jerri Williams, a retired FBI agent, author and podcaster, jokes that she writes about the FBI to relive her glory days. After 26 years with the Bureau specializing in major economic fraud and corruption investigations, she calls on her professional encounters with scams and schemers to write police procedurals inspired by true crime FBI cases in her Philadelphia FBI Corruption Squad crime fiction series featuring flawed female FBI agent Kari Wheeler. Jerri’s FBI for Armchair Detectives nonfiction series enables readers to discover who the FBI is and what the FBI does by debunking misconceptions about the FBI in books, TV, and movies. Her books are available as ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks wherever books are sold. She’s also the host of FBI Retired Case File Review, a true crime podcast with more than 300 episodes available on all popular podcast apps and YouTube.

1 Comment

  1. Mary QuirkeJuly 31, 2024

    This was such a good episode. Chris is inspirational and I’m sure his Dad would be proud of him.

    Reply

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