Hate Crimes Case Examples
Below is a selection of representative federal hate crimes case summaries. Each includes a link to a DOJ press release, with additional information.
New Jersey | July 23, 2024 | Religion
A New Jersey man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for a series of carjackings and violent assaults against Orthodox Jewish men on April 8, 2022.
According to evidence, the defendant stole two vehicles and violently assault and attempted to run down and murder three pedestrians with the stolen vehicles. All five victims were targeted for their outwardly religious dress and appearance, and each suffered severe injuries including several broken bones.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-jersey-man-pleads-guilty-series-violent-assaults-members-orthodox-jewish-community
Criminal Complaint: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/press-release/file/1495646/download
Washington | June 25, 2024 | Race
A Washington man pleaded guilty to a hate crime for threatening a federal employee at a Social Security office in Olympia, Washington.
In February of 2023, the defendant became angry with a Black federal employee for telling him that he did not have the proper paperwork for a replacement Social Security card. The defendant repeatedly yelled racial slurs and threatened to kill the employee.
The defendant faces 30 months in prison.
Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/olympia-man-sentenced-racially-motivated-threats-against-federal-worker
Colorado | June 18, 2024 | Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation
A Colorado man was sentenced to 55 concurrent life sentences to run consecutive to 190 years in prison after pleading guilty to 74 hate crimes and firearms charges related to the Nov. 19, 2022, mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQIA+ establishment in Colorado Springs.
According to the plea agreement, the defendant admitted to murdering five people, injuring 19, and attempting to murder 26 more in a willful, deliberate, malicious, and premediated attack at Club Q. The defendant entered Club Q armed with a loaded, privately manufactured assault weapon and began firing. He continued firing until subdued by patrons of the Club. As part of the plea, the defendant admitted that this attack was in part motivated because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of the victims.
Massachusetts | June 10, 2024 | Race
A Massachusetts man was sentenced to 90 months in prison for threatening an interracial couple over social media and then intimidating the couple to stop them from reporting him to the police.
According to evidence, the defendant found a post with a White woman and Black man’s engagement photos on social media. He did not know the couple personally but began sending them a series of degrading messages with racial slurs and sexually explicit comments. When the couple messaged that they were reporting him to the police, the defendant threatened to rape and kill the woman.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/massachusetts-man-pleads-guilty-threatening-and-harassing-interracial-couple-and
Texas | June 5, 2024 | Race, Religion, National Origin
A Texas man has been charged with a federal hate crime for making threats against the employees of a Sikh nonprofit organization.
According to the complaint, on or about Sept. 17, 2022, the defendant called an organization that advocates for the civil rights of Sikh individuals within the United States. Over the next hour, the defendant left seven voicemails expressing extreme hatred toward Sikh individuals working at this same organization and threatening to injure or kill these individuals with a razor. The voicemails, which were filled with violent imagery and obscenity, contained references to places, people and tenets that are particularly significant within the Sikh religion. In March, the defendant again called the Sikh organization and left two more threatening voicemails
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Michigan | June 4, 2024 | Race, Religion
A Michigan man was sentenced to 26 months in prison for conspiring with other members of a white supremacist group, The Base, to victimize Black and Jewish people, and for spray-painting a Jewish synagogue using swastikas and symbols associated with The Base.
Evidence presented at trial showed the defendant planned to destroy property associated with Black and Jewish Americans with other members of the Base. They called it "Operation Kristallnacht” — a term that means "Night of Broken Glass,” and refers to events that took place on Nov. 9 and 10, 1938, when Nazis murdered Jews and burned and destroyed their homes, synagogues, schools and businesses. On Sept. 21, 2019, the defendant acted on the plan and spray-painted swastikas and neo-Nazi symbols on the outside walls of Temple Jacob in Hancock, Michigan.
A jury found the defendant guilty in January 2024.
Conviction: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2024_0125_N_Weeden_Conviction
Charges: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2023_0629_Weeden_Indictment
California | May 29, 2024 | Race, National Origin
A California man was charged with hate crimes for punching an Asian American woman in Culver City, while yelling racial slurs at her.
According to evidence, the defendant asked the victim for a cigarette and then followed her yelling racial slurs. He punched the victim in the head, causing her to fall into the street and hit her head. While the victim was lying face down in the street, the defendant shouted, “You hear what I said, [racial slur]? I said good morning, [slur]!”
The victim suffered severe injuries and received 11 stitches to the face because of the attack.
California | May 24, 2024 | Religion
A California woman was sentenced to 32 months in prison for sending a series of antisemitic threats over the phone to former Executive Director of Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue and his family.
According to evidence at trial, the defendant left over 240 messages over four years with the victim, his wife, and her adult child. These messages were filled with hateful antisemitic remarks and death threats to the family and all Jewish people. In several messages she mentioned victims killed in the October 2018 massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue by name. Her threats left the family scared for their lives.
The defendant was arrested in March 2023 and pleaded guilty to hate crimes in March 2024.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/california-woman-pleads-guilty-leaving-threatening-anti-semitic-message
California | May 24, 2024 | Religion
A California man was arrested and charged for making antisemitic threats against several North Carolina entities and individuals, including an elected official, members of law enforcement, and several synagogues located in North Carolina.
According to evidence, on or about May 7, the defendant stated, “Jews didn’t deserve to live. Jews didn’t deserve to be on this earth. I’m going to kill the Jews. I’m coming to the Temple to kill all the Jews and the children.” He also made a bomb threat to the Wake County, North Carolina, Sheriff’s Office.
Maryland | May 14, 2024 | Race
A Maryland woman pleaded guilty to scheming with a co-conspirator to attack electrical facilities and cause a major power disruption in the Baltimore area. A co-defendant faces similar charges and currently awaits trial.
The defendant met the co-defendant in 2018, and together they supported white supremacist ideology with plans for violent attacks. From at least December 2022 through February 2023, the two developed plans to purchase firearms illegally and attack energy facilities surrounding the Baltimore area. In February 2023, law enforcement officers found firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the defendant’s home, which she was prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon.
The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for her conspiracy charges, and up to 15 years in prison for possessing firearms.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/maryland-woman-pleads-guilty-conspiring-destroy-baltimore-region-power-grid
California | May 14, 2024 | Religion
A California man pleaded guilty to hate crimes and gun charges for shooting and wounding two Jewish men as they left religious services in February 2023.
According to evidence, the defendant shot the first victim as they were leaving services at the synagogue. The next day, the defendant shot another victim who was leaving services at a different synagogue in the same Los Angeles neighborhood.
Evidence indicates that the defendant held antisemitic beliefs, and he targeted a predominately Jewish neighborhood after searching a popular business-review app for a kosher market in the Pico-Robertson district of Los Angeles.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/ex-riverside-man-agrees-plead-guilty-hate-and-gun-crimes-shooting-two-jewish-men
New Jersey | May 13, 2024 | Race
A New Jersey man was charged with posting threats to attack white people on social media.
In December of 2022, the defendant posted a long message on social media saying he wanted to “erase” white people. In the post, he claimed he already chose a place to attack and obtained two firearms he planned to use in the attack. In the months that followed, the defendant continued to post violent threats on social media, idealizing a mass shooting and expressing hopes to “progress into a serial killer.”
In statements to law enforcement, the defendant admitted to writing the posts and provided detailed information on locations he had considered as possible targets for his attack, including a Jersey Strong gym and an Aldi grocery store in Robbinsville, New Jersey.
The defendant faces up to five years in prison.
California | May 6, 2024 | Race, National Origin
A California man was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for disrupting a “Stop Asian Hate” rally in March 2021 by running a red light and driving through a crowded crosswalk of peaceful protesters.
According to evidence, the defendant drove through the peaceful rally yelling, “Go back to China!” and other racial slurs at the demonstrators. The defendant then intentionally drove through a crosswalk, narrowly missing a group of demonstrators, including a 9-year-old child.
The defendant got out of the car and continued to yell racist threats at the demonstrators. He called the police, identifying himself as “John Doe,” and falsely reported that rally participants were “about to trample [his] car.”
The defendant pleaded guilty to civil rights charges in October 2023.
North Carolina | May 2, 2024 | Race, National Origin
A North Carolina man was sentenced to 41 months in prison for his racially motivated attacks on a Black man and his Hispanic neighbor.
According to evidence, in November 2021, the defendant attacked his Hispanic neighbor, yelling slurs before punching and tackling him. In October of 2022, the defendant encountered a Black driver, swerved into his lane, got out of his vehicle, and began to punch the driver’s car and yell racial slurs at him. The defendant followed the driver home, where he continued yelling racial slurs and threatening to kill the driver.
At trial, the defendant spoke about displaying a KKK flag, a racist publication, and Nazi memorabilia in his home. A jury delivered a guilty verdict in January 2024.
Guilty Verdict: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/north-carolina-man-convicted-federal-hate-crimes-racially-motivated-attacks-against-black
North Carolina | May 2, 2024 | Religion
A North Carolina man was charged with mailing antisemitic threats to a Rabbi in Georgia.
According to evidence, a Rabbi in Macon, Georgia received a threatening postcard from the defendant at her home address in February of 2024. On one side of the postcard, there was a handwritten message: "Is there a child rape, torture, and murder tunnel under your house? We have the Zyklon B. Use Code "GASTHEJEWS" for 10% off!" The other side of the postcard had a drawing with the words “JEWS ARE RATS.”
South Carolina | May 2, 2024 | Race, Gender Identity
A South Carolina man was found guilty of a hate crime for killing a Black transgender woman, Dime Doe, because of her gender identity.
Evidence presented at trial showed the defendant was upset that rumors about his sexual relationship with Dime Doe were out in the community. On Aug. 4, 2019, the defendant lured Doe to a remote area in Allendale, South Carolina, and shot her three times in the head. At trial, the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he murdered Doe because of her gender identity.
After the murder, the defendant burned the clothes he was wearing during the crime, disposed of the murder weapon, and repeatedly lied to law enforcement to cover up the crime. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for his crimes.
A co-defendant was sentenced to 45 months in prison for assisting in the cover up. The co-defendant pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, admitting he lied to law enforcement about his text messages with Dime Doe and communications with the defendant on the day of the murder.
Defendant’s Conviction: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/south-carolina-man-found-guilty-hate-crime-killing-transgender-woman-because-her-gender
Co-defendant’s Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/south-carolina-man-pleads-guilty-obstructing-justice-murder-black-transgender-woman
Co-defendant’s Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/south-carolina-man-sentenced-obstructing-justice-murder-black-transgender-woman
North Carolina | May 1, 2024 | Religion, National Origin
A North Carolina man pleaded guilty to civil rights charges and was sentenced to 18 months in prison for emailing threats to a Jewish Organization in Charlotte, North Carolina.
According to evidence, the defendant sent a threatening email to the organization, addressing the recipients as “Israeli jews of David star,” and threatening to “take every one of you out,” writing that “you semite [sic] pieces of s- will be annihilated.” Two days later, he sent a second threatening email to the same organization, again making a reference to their Jewish religion.
Florida | April 25, 2024 | Race
A Florida man was sentenced to five years in prison for racially motivated attacks on two Black women.
On September 10, 2022, the defendant directed racial slurs at the clerk of a convenience store after his credit card was declined. The defendant left the store with unpaid items, then picked up a shotgun from his car. He pointed it at the clerk while yelling racial slurs, pulled back the chamber and loaded a bullet into it. The victim ran away in fear for her life.
Two days later, the defendant approached a woman resting on the seat of her walker on the sidewalk. He used racial slurs, told her that she could not sit there, and threatened to kill her. Then he retrieved his shotgun and fired a single shot.
The defendant pleaded guilty in July 2023.
Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/florida-man-sentenced-racially-motivated-attacks-two-black-women
Texas | April 23, 2024 | Religion
A Texas man was sentenced to more than two years in prison for sending a series of antisemitic death threats.
From December 2022 through January 2023, the defendant sent death threats over email to two former coworkers. The emails detailed how he planned to murder them and included photographs of pipe bombs, ammunition, and a firearm. The emails also included personal information about the victims and their families.
These threats were part of a larger pattern of death threats sent to people in his life, as well as politicians, judges, and prosecutors. In these threats, the defendant consistently used violent, threatening language that targeted Jewish people.
The defendant pleaded guilty two days into the trial.
Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/texas-man-sentenced-27-months-prison-sending-antisemitic-death-threats
New Jersey | April 22, 2024 | Religion
A New Jersey man was charged with a federal hate crime for breaking into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University (CILRU) and destroying religious artifacts.
According to reports, on April 10, during the Eid-al-Fitr holiday, the defendant broke into CILRU a destroyed their property, including several religious artifacts such as prayer stones and items with holy language from Islamic scripture. The defendant was also said to have stolen a Palestinian flag and a charity box belonging to the CILRU.
California | April 19, 2024 | Race, Religion
A California man associated with a racially motivated violent extremist group was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for possessing ammunition and machine guns as a convicted felon.
According to evidence, the defendant used online messaging apps to post racist comments against Jewish people, including calling for mass murder and genocide of Jews. He also posted links and instruction manuals concerning hand grenades, biological warfare, and the “Aryan Revolution,” at times offering to make firearms and firearm parts for others using 3-D printers.
In July 2023, law enforcement officers searched the defendant’s home and found 116 rounds of ammunition and various machinegun conversion devices, which he was prohibited from possessing based on a previous burglary felony.
Pennsylvania | April 19, 2024 | Disability
A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for planning and carrying out hate crimes against residents of the in-patient health care facility where he worked. The residents had a range of severe physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities, and required assistance with daily activities.
The defendant and his coworker planned a series of assaults, including punching and kicking disabled residents and rubbing hand sanitizer and mouth wash in their eyes. In one instance, the defendant admitted to jumping on top of a 13-year-old minor while the child was lying on his bed with the lights off, and his coworker recorded him. The co-defendants would send graphic text messages to each other, expressing hate toward the disabled residents, sharing photographs and videos of residents, writing about their abuse, and encouraging each other’s continued abuse of residents. They took advantage of their one-on-one access with the residents who could not defend themselves because of their disabilities.
The defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. His co-defendant also pleaded guilty and was previously sentenced to 17 years in prison.
New York | April 19, 2024 | Race
A white supremacist leader was sentenced to over 3.5 years in prison for posting death threats against a Brooklyn journalist.
The leader of Feuerkrieg Division (“FKD”), an international racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist group, which translates to “War Fire,” posted death threats against a Brooklyn-based journalist so that he would stop reporting on the Neo-Nazi group.
According to evidence, the threat included a photograph of the Journalist with a gun aimed at his head and the words “Race Traitor” over the Journalist’s eyes. The threat stated, “JOURNALIST F[***] OFF! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.” The threat was sent in an online discussion forum and listed the journalist and his employer by name. Two under-aged FKD members tweeted the death threat directly at the journalist’s social media handle so that he would see it.
Maine | April 18, 2024 | Religion
A Maine man was sentenced to a year in prison for posting violent threats directed at Jewish people on social media.
According to evidence, on September 8, 2021, the defendant posted on social media, “I’m going to kill jews with my ar15 tomorrow.” FBI investigators searched his home and found about 1,700 rounds of ammunition that could be fired from an AR-15-style rifle and evidence of long-standing antisemitic beliefs. Investigators later found an AR-15-style rifle and more ammunition in a case that had been hidden in the woods behind his home.
Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/buxton-man-sentenced-threats-against-jewish-community
California | April 15, 2024 | Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation
A California man who firebombed a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa, California, and plotted other attacks, including an attack on a California power grid in furtherance of a race war, an attack at Dodger Stadium during an LGBTQI+ pride night celebration, and the home invasions of several Jewish homes in Los Angeles was sentenced to nine years in prison.
On March 13, 2022, the defendant and a co-defendant lit a Molotov cocktail and threw it at a Planned Parenthood clinic, striking the clinic entrance and starting a fire before fleeing. According to evidence, the defendant later planned a second attack but stopped when he saw law enforcement at the clinic.
The co-defendants had been discussing starting a race war by attacking an electrical substation with the goal of disrupting the power grid in Orange County, California. The defendant kept a thumb drive disguised as a military necklace, with an operation plan and a gear list for his attacks. Law enforcement found some of this gear in the defendant’s home, with racial slurs printed on weapons and a recording of a mass shooting. Evidence also revealed plans to attack Dodger Stadium on a night celebrating LGBTQI+ pride and plans to rob Jewish families in Hollywood Hills.
He was motivated by white supremacist ideology and expressed violent racist, antisemitic, and homophobic intentions on several occasions. Further sentencing for additional crimes will come later this year.
Co-Defendant’s Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/irvine-man-pleads-guilty-firebombing-planned-parenthood-clinic-and-plotting-attack
New York | April 10, 2024 | Religion
A former student at Cornell University pleaded guilty to posting violent threats on social media targeted at Jewish students.
In October 2023, the defendant posted on a Cornell online discussion forum threatening to “shoot up” the cafeteria and “bomb” the Jewish student house. The defendant threatened to “stab” and “slit the throat” of any Jewish man he saw on campus, to rape and throw off a cliff any Jewish women he saw, and to behead any Jewish babies. In that same post, he threatened to “bring an assault rifle to campus and shoot all you pig jews.”
The defendant faces up to five years in prison.
Florida | April 5, 2024 | Religion, National Origin
A Florida man pleaded guilty to assaulting a postal worker wearing a hijab.
On October 9, 2023, the defendant saw a federal employee wearing a hijab on her postal route. Two weeks later, when the postal worker stepped out of her vehicle to deliver mail, the defendant circled her on his bicycle, making gun gestures with his hands. He called the victim a “b---” and said, “If I had a gun,” and “go back to your country.”
When the victim got back in her vehicle, the defendant climbed into the vehicle, attacking her, spitting on her, and removing her hijab. Feeling trapped, the victim got out of her mail truck, but the defendant followed her, continued to physically harass her and yell “F--- Islam” and “You are a terrorist.”
Texas | April 3, 2024 | Religion
A Texas man was sentenced to 37 years in prison after a shooting at a car repair shop targeting Muslim employees and customers.
According to evidence, the defendant went to a car repair shop, made anti-Muslim statements, and pledged he would return to the business. A few days later, on December 24, 2015, the defendant asked customers if they were Muslim and opened fire. That day he shot and killed one person and attempted to kill three other people. As he was leaving, he attempted to kill a fourth person with his vehicle.
The defendant was charged with a federal hate crime and pleaded guilty in September 2023.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-charges
Indictment: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-indicted-hate-crime-shooting
Massachusetts | April 3, 2024 | Race, National Origin
A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime for targeting and striking an Asian American man with his vehicle because of his race.
According to evidence, the defendant saw a Vietnamese man and his three children outside a post office. The defendant yelled at the family, “go back to China,” threatened to kill them, and then ran into the man with his car. The victim landed on the hood of the moving car and stayed there for 200 feet before falling into a ditch and suffering severe injuries.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/massachusetts-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-against-asian-american-man
Michigan | March 27, 2024 | Religion
A Michigan man was charged for spray-painting Nazi symbols on a Jewish house of worship.
According to evidence, in November, 2023, the defendant spray-painted swastikas on the Chabad House of Kalamazoo and destroyed a large menorah in front of the house. The defendant vandalized the house because the Chabad organization hosts religious, cultural and community activities including Jewish religious services.
The defendant was arrested and faces charges for federal hate crimes.
Charges: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2024_0327_Chen_J_Charged
Mississippi | March 21, 2024 | Race
Six police officers in Rankin, County Mississippi were convicted of thirteen felonies and face lengthy prison sentences.
The defendants admitted to torturing and assaulting two Black men who could not defend themselves or escape the abuse. These officers label themselves the “Goon Squad,” known for using excessive force and not reporting it. According to evidence, the defendants barged into the victims home without a warrant, and then handcuffed and arrested the men without probable cause to believe they had committed any crime. The defendants punched and kicked the men, tased them 17 times, held them down and poured liquids on their faces, threw eggs at them and assaulted them. The senior officer on the scene did not stop the torture or abuse and stole property while the incident occurred.
One officer forced the barrel of his gun into the mouth of one of the victims and pulled the trigger to try to scare him. When the officer did it a second time, a bullet ripped through the victim’s mouth and throat, causing life threatening injuries. While the victim was bleeding on the floor, the officers tried to come up with a cover story, destroying evidence and charging the victims for crimes they did not commit.
The six officers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 40 years.
Maine | March 18, 2024 | Race
A Maine man pleaded guilty to sending racist and threatening video messages over social media directed at a Black family living in his apartment complex.
According to the evidence, the defendant recorded a video shouting racial slurs and threatening to kill his neighbor in graphic detail and sent it to an acquaintance. In the message, the defendant said he was waiting in his car outside his neighbor’s apartment and would kill the next Black person who came out.
The defendant targeted and threatened his neighbor because of his neighbor’s race. He now faces up to five years in prison.
Florida | March 14, 2024 | Race, Religion, National Origin
A Florida man was sentenced to six months in prison for leaving threatening messages at a Jewish Organization in New York City. Evidence showed the defendant left a message on October 21, 2023 threatening to kill all Israelis and “cause mass genocide.” The defendant pleaded guilty to the hate crime in December 2023.
California | March 13, 2024 | Race, National Origin
A rideshare driver in California was charged for attacking a passenger for her suspected Jewish heritage.
According to evidence, the defendant drove to pick up a rider from her house. When he arrived he asked the rider if she was Jewish or Israeli and claimed he would not drive a Jewish or Israeli passenger. He then punched the passenger in the face.
The defendant was arrested and charged with a federal hate crime.
Michigan | March 13, 2024 | Race, Religion
A Michigan man was charged with federal hate crimes for targeting a predominantly Black church with racist graffiti and going on to spray paint a public park restroom.
According to evidence, in October 2021, the defendant spray-painted swastikas, the word “die” and other racist graffiti on a church in Warren, Michigan. The church has a Black pastor and serves a predominantly Black congregation. The defendant also spray-painted swastikas, a racist slur and other symbols outside a public bathroom of Trombly Park, in Warren.
The defendant was arrested in March.
Oregon | March 7, 2024 | Religion
An Oregon man was charged with hate crimes for repeatedly spray painting a Jewish synagogue with antisemitic graffiti.
According to evidence, the defendant spray painted a Jewish synagogue in Eugene, Oregon on four separate occasions with graffiti, some of which used antisemitic symbols and phrases. In January 2024, the defendant was caught on tape preparing to swing a hammer at the glass doors of the temple. When he saw he was being recorded, he moved to a different area and spray-painted “White Power” on the outside of the building.
Detectives searched the defendant’s home and found evidence connecting him to three earlier cases of vandalism at the temple. He was arrested and charged with federal hate crimes in March.
Charges: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/oregon-man-charged-federal-hate-crimes-defacing-synagogue
Florida | March 5, 2024 | Religion, National Origin
A Florida man was charged by a grand jury for repeatedly threatening the Council on American-Islamic Relations (“CAIR”) Michigan Chapter.
According to evidence, the defendant left three voicemails at the CAIR’s office in Canton, Michigan, including disparaging remarks about the Islamic community and threats to kill Muslim people. The defendant was arrested and charged for hate crimes. He faces up to five years in prison.
Michigan | March 4, 2024 | Religion
A Michigan man was sentenced to one year in prison for making a series of violent threats to kill Jewish people. In November 2023, the defendant pleaded guilty to sending messages on social media including references to Adolf Hitler, antisemitic language, and plans to engage in a mass shooting and to commit suicide.
The defendant was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, with 3 years of supervised release.
Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2024_0304_Pietila_Sentencing
Ohio | February 29, 2024 | Gender
An Ohio man and self-identified “incel” was sentenced to more than six years in prison for planning a mass shooting of sorority women at Ohio State University. The defendant posted videos on social media shooting orange juice out of a water gun at women on campus, copying the behavior of a known Incel who killed six people and injured 14 others outside of a sorority house in California in 2014. The defendant wrote notes with plans to “aim big,” “slaughter” women, and kill upwards of 3,000 people. Evidence showed the defendant had been plotting a mass shooting, searching online how to commit the hate crime, and buying tactical equipment.
The defendant was arrested by federal agents in July 2021, and he was sentenced to 80 months in prison in February 2024.
Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/highland-county-man-sentenced-more-6-years-prison-attempting-hate-crime
Ohio | February 28, 2024 | Race
An Ohio man pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime for physically assaulting an Asian American student at the University of Cincinnati.
According to evidence, the defendant threatened to kill the victim while making racist comments about COVID-19 and “kung flu.” The defendant punched the victim in the side of the head, causing him to hit his head on a parked car and suffer severe injuries.
The defendant faces up to 22 months in prison.
Texas | February 22, 2024 | Gender Identity
A Texas man was sentenced to three months in prison for threatening a Boston doctor who provided care to gender nonconforming children.
After misinformation spread online about procedures being performed at the Boston Children’s Hospital, the defendant left a voicemail at the Boston-based National LGBTQIA+ Center, threatening to kill one of the Center’s affiliated doctors.
The man continued to try and contact the doctor, even calling a former employer and the university where the doctor worked.
New York | February 6, 2024 | Religion
A Manhattan man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for selling a gun to two men planning a violent attack on a New York City synagogue.
According to the charges, one of the men posted a violent threat on social media with plans to “shoot up” a synagogue. Later that day, the defendant drove the two men to his house in Pennsylvania to sell them a gun with special enhancements to make the weapon more deadly, as well as 19 rounds of ammunition. The defendant taught the two men how to shoot the gun and how to hide their fingerprints, before driving them back to New York. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force became aware of the plot and arrested the men before the attack.
Ohio | January 30, 2024 | Sexual Orientation, Religion
An Ohio man was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for attempting to burn down a church because of its support for the LGBTQI+ community.
According to evidence, the defendant was angry the church intended to host two drag events. He threw two Molotov cocktails at the church on the night of March 25, 2023, attempting to burn the building down.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-sentenced-18-years-prison-firebombing-church-planned-host-drag-show-events
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-pleads-guilty-attempting-burn-down-church-planned-host-drag-show-events
Massachusetts | January 29, 2024 | Religion
A Massachusetts man was arrested and charged for leaving a threatening voicemail at a local synagogue, including antisemitic death threats and calls to bomb Jewish synagogues.
According to evidence, on the morning of January 25, 2024, the defendant called a synagogue in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and left a voicemail calling for violence and genocide against the Jewish community. The message included calls to bomb Jewish places of worship and to kill Jewish children. Shortly after leaving the voicemail, the defendant called another Synagogue and a local Jewish-affiliated organization. He was arrested shortly after the calls were made.
Maryland | January 11, 2024 | Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity
A Maryland man has been sentenced to two years in prison after making death threats to members of an advocacy group for LGBTQI+ people.
According to evidence, the man sent threatening communications to Maryland and Virginia state delegates due to their support of transgender people.
In one incident, on March 2022 he responded to a Maryland state delegate’s social media post that was honoring National Trans Day of Visibility, stating that he would have her excommunicated from the Catholic Church. In a later post, after she was re-elected, he wrote, “Enjoy hell…You’re going sooner than you think.”
During another incident, in March 2023, the defendant left a voicemail for an LGBTQI+ advocacy group threatening to kill them. In the voicemail, he stated, “…we’ll cut your throats. We’ll put a bullet in your head…You’re going to kill us? We’re going to kill you 10 times more in full.”
Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/maryland-man-sentenced-issuing-death-threats-lgbtqi-advocacy-group
Oklahoma | December 28, 2023 | Sexual Orientation
An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison for vandalizing and setting fire to a donut shop frequented by LGBTQI+ patrons. The man placed an anti-LGBTQI+ flyer on the building, broke the glass door with a baseball bat, and threw a Molotov cocktail inside.
The man has a prior arrest for setting fire to a restaurant that publicly supported LGBTQI+ people, but a witness failed to appear in court and the case was dismissed. He also has a history of causing disturbances and leaving anti-LGBTQI+ flyers at other businesses in the Tulsa area.
Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndok/pr/arsonist-sentenced-throwing-molotov-cocktail-donut-shop
New Mexico, Texas | December 21, 2023 | Gender Identity
A New Mexico man has been sentenced to a year in prison after threatening to kill an elected Texas official.
The man left a voicemail for a Texas congresswoman in which he threatened to shoot her in the face and claimed that he was part of a movement to eradicate transgender people in government. The defendant admitted he threatened her because he mistakenly believed she was transgender.
Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/las-cruces-man-sentenced-1-year-prison-threatening-us-congresswoman
West Virginia | December 20, 2023 | Religion
A West Virginia man was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for attempting to intimidate and influence jurors and witnesses during a federal hate crimes trial.
The defendant threatened witnesses and jurors in the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue case. In that case, Robert Bowers was prosecuted for carrying out the mass-shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue.
According to evidence, the man, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, admitted to making online threats via social media posts, website comments, and emails during the trial to jury members and government witnesses. The defendant selected these victims due to the actual or perceived Jewish religion of the witnesses and victims.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/west-virginia-man-admits-obstructing-tree-life-trial
Detainment: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/west-virginia-man-ordered-detained-following-federal-indictment
Ohio | December 6, 2023 | National Origin
After targeting and attacking Haitian immigrants because of their nationality, an Ohio man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The defendant robbed, carjacked, and assaulted at least eight people in and around Springfield, Ohio because of their national origin, targeting people he believed were from Haiti. The man recruited minors to help him attack five of the victims.
Texas | November 29, 2023 | Religion
A Texas man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for setting fire to Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue in Austin, Texas.
When the defendant pleaded guilty, he admitted to targeting the synagogue because of his hatred of Jewish people. The man also possessed journals, decals, and stickers expressing antisemitic messages.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-antisemitic-hate-crime-after-seeking-burn-down-synagogue
Puerto Rico | November 15, 2023 | Gender Identity
Two Puerto Rican men were sentenced to nearly three years in prison for attacking a transgender woman in February 2020.
The men were driving out together when they saw the victim standing on the side of the road and recognized her from a recent social media post. Then the defendants recorded themselves yelling threats and disparaging comments from the car. The defendants then decided to get a paintball gun, and later went back to the victim’s location. One of the defendants recorded the other one shooting the victim multiple times with the paintball gun. After the assault ended, one of the defendants shared the video recording.
The men admitted they attacked the victim because she was transgender.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-puerto-rican-men-plead-guilty-federal-hate-crime-against-transgender-woman-and
New Jersey | November 14, 2023 | Religion
A New Jersey man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after he posted a manifesto online threatening to attack a synagogue and Jewish people.
According to evidence, on November 1, 2022, the defendant used social media to share a document he wrote titled, “When Swords Collide.” In the document, he admitted to targeting a synagogue, providing that “It’s in the context of an attack on Jews.” He used the document to threaten at least five people on social media.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/middlesex-county-man-admits-communicating-threats-attack-synagogue
Oregon | November 2, 2023 | Sexual Orientation, Gender
An Oregon man has been sentenced to over three years in prison for attempting to run over three people with a car in Boise, Idaho. The defendant targeted LGBTQI+ people.
On October 8, 2022, the defendant was at a library in Boise and approached a transgender library employee. He called the woman a slur, punched her in the face, and threatened to stab her.
Four days later, in a public park, the defendant saw two women together and assumed they were lesbians. He shouted threats and slurs at them, then accelerated his car at them. The women jumped out of the way and the defendant hit a car.
The defendant admitted to being responsible for three other instances of anti-LGBTQI+ vandalism and violence in October 2022.
Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/oregon-man-sentenced-committing-anti-lgbtqi-assaults
Montana | October 20, 2023 | Race
A Montana man has been sentenced to a year and a half in prison for making racially motivated harassing calls to a Black woman employed at a Billings church.
According to evidence, in November 2020, the man had gone to the church asking for money and the victim gave him a gift card. For almost two years, the defendant called the victim and church and left threatening voicemails stating his hatred for the victim and Black people.
The defendant made similar threatening and racially motivated calls to Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the southern US.
Florida | October 19, 2023 | Race
A Florida man was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and two years of supervised release for a bias-motivated attack on six Black men.
According to evidence, in September 2022, the defendant drove his truck towards the group of six Black men because of their race. The men were surveying land along a public road near the location of the 1923 Rosewood Massacre when the attack took place. The defendant shouted racial slurs at the victims while almost hitting them with his truck.
Washington | October 16, 2023 | Race
A Washington man has been charged with a hate crime for threatening a federal employee at a Social Security office in Olympia, Washington.
In February of 2023, the defendant became angry with a Black federal employee for telling him that he did not have the proper paperwork for a replacement Social Security card. The defendant was angry, used racial slurs, and threatened to assault or kill the employee.
The defendant faces up to 10 years in person, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Indiana | October 6, 2023 | Religion
An Indiana man has been charged with a hate crime for sending threatening communications to Anti-Defamation League offices around the US.
According to the indictment, the defendant left voicemails threatening to kill Jewish people at Anti-Defamation League offices. The defendant chose his victims because of their actual or perceived religion.
If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Washington | October 3, 2023 | Sexual Orientation
A Washington man was sentenced to four years in prison for his hate-motivated arson of a nightclub and event space where the LGBTQI+ community gathers called Queer/Bar.
According to the plea, the man set fire to a dumpster in the alley behind Queer/Bar on Feb. 24, 2020. After he was arrested, he admitted to police officers that he set the fire and targeted Queer/Bar because it angered him to see a sign that said “queer.” He also told officers, “I think it’s wrong that we have a bunch of queers in our society.” A few weeks after the incident, the defendant told a stranger that his intent in setting the fire was to trap and hurt the people inside.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/washington-man-pleads-guilty-committing-hate-crime-arson-seattle-nightclub
Maryland | August 30, 2023 | Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity
A Maryland man has pleaded guilty to using a phone to threaten a group that advocates for LGBTQI+ rights.
In March of 2023, the victim organization received a voicemail from the defendant who referenced a mass-shooting event where the shooter was a transgender woman. In the voicemail the man threated to kill the workers of the advocacy group. The defendant targeted the advocacy group because of their actual and perceived gender identity and sexual orientation.
According to evidence, the defendant had also sent messages via email to two state delegates who had voiced support for LGBTQI+ advocacy. He threatened physical violence and even death in those messages.
He faces up to five years in prison.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/maryland-man-pleads-guilty-issuing-threats-violence-lgbtqi-advocacy-group
South Carolina | August 23, 2023 | National Origin, Race
A South Carolina man and woman pleaded guilty to a hate crime and other charges.
The man and woman followed their victims home from public places like the grocery store and gas station and robbed them at gunpoint. They targeted their victims because of their race and nationality.
According to the plea agreements, both defendants must pay restitution to the victims.
Oklahoma | August 16, 2023 | Race
Two Oklahoma men pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 6 and 10 years in prison, respectively, for a racially motivated attack in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The two men must also pay the victim restitution, money to cover medical or other expenses, amounting to $113,644.40.
On Jan. 18, 2022, a grand jury charged the defendants with physically assaulting a Black man because of his race, as well as his white friend, in the parking lot of the Brickhouse Saloon in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/second-oklahoma-man-sentenced-federal-prison-role-racially-motivated-hate-crime
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/oklahoma-man-sentenced-racially-motivated-hate-crime-against-black-man
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-oklahoma-men-plead-guilty-racially-motivated-hate-crime
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-oklahoma-men-indicted-hate-crimes
Utah | August 8, 2023 | Race, National Origin
A Utah man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for attacking three men with a metal pole he believed to be Mexican.
On November 27, 2018, the man entered a tire store and shouted at employees there that he wanted to “kill Mexicans.” Then he began attacking the employees with a metal pole, striking the first victim, a teenager, in the head, resulting in a serious injury. After the father of the victim, the business owner, rushed to help his son, the attacker struck him several times with the metal pole. The business owner’s brother rushed to intervene. The attacker threatened him, but he was not injured in the attack.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/utah-man-sentenced-hate-crime-attack-three-men
Indictment: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr/utah-man-charged-hate-crimes-attacking-three-men-metal-pole
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/utah-man-convicted-hate-crime-charges-after-attacking-three-men-metal-pole
Pennsylvania | August 2, 2023 | Religion
After two months of trial, a federal jury in Pittsburgh unanimously recommended that a Pennsylvania man be sentenced to death for killing 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, critically wounding seven others, including five responding police officers.
On October 27, 2018, the assailant entered the Tree of Life Synagogue during worship with multiple firearms and stated his desire to “kill Jews.” He shot and killed 11 congregants, injuring two other members of the congregation and five law enforcement officers. Evidence showed that the defendant meticulously planned his attack based on his violently antisemitic beliefs, reflected in dozens of online posts.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/jury-recommends-sentence-death-pennsylvania-man-convicted-tree-life-synagogue-shooting
Additional Charges Filed: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/additional-charges-filed-tree-life-synagogue-shooting-0
Missouri | August 2, 2023 | Religion
A Missouri man was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison, in addition to owing $551,217.91 in damages, for hate crime and arson violations after pleading guilty to burning down the Cape Girardeau Islamic Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
On April 24, 2020, the first morning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, at about 4:50 a.m., the defendant set fire to the Islamic Center at 298 Northwest End Boulevard, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Video showed him throwing multiple objects through the building’s glass window, causing it to break. He poured the contents of two gallon-sized containers throughout the foyer and down the hallway and then lit two fires that immediately spread through the inside of the building.
The Islamic Center suffered severe damage that rendered it unsuitable for use as a religious center. The defendant admitted that he set the fire because of the religious character of the building.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/missouri-man-sentenced-setting-fire-islamic-center
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/missouri-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-and-arson-charges-burning-down-islamic-center
Florida | July 27, 2023 | Race
A jury in Gainesville, Florida, convicted a Florida man for hate crimes after his racially motivated attack on a group of Black men surveying property along a public road in Rosewood, Florida. The property is near the location of the 1923 Rosewood Massacre, an infamous racially motivated attack on a prospering Black community that destroyed a thriving town.
On Sept. 6, 2022, the defendant noticed the victims surveying land near a public roadway. When the defendant came upon the victims, who were on the public roadway, he shouted racial slurs and expletives at them, including “[racial slur] get out of these woods,” before driving a pickup truck directly at the group, nearly striking one of them. At trial, one witness testified that the defendant admitted that he “came at those [expletives],” and that he “would have [expletive]d up all those Black [expletive]. Video evidence showed that after he was arrested, the defendant complained that he was “getting treated like this [expletive] over a [expletive] [racial slur].” Although no victims suffered from physical injuries, one witness testified that the defendant came “within inches” of striking one of the victims and that one victim, “nearly lost his life that day.”
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/florida-man-found-guilty-federal-hate-crimes-racially-motivated-attack-against-six-black-men
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/florida-man-charged-federal-hate-crimes-racially-motivated-attack-against-group-black-men
Kentucky | July 27, 2023 | Race
A Kentucky woman was sentenced to nine years in prison for mailing threats to her neighbors in 2020 because of their race.
The woman sent multiple threatening letters to an interracial couple and their children, who lived in the same neighborhood. Many of these letters contained violent threats and racial slurs.
At trial, the jury found that the threatening letters were sent to the defendant’s neighbors because of their race.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kentucky-woman-sentenced-mailing-threatening-communications-neighbors-because-their-race
Alaska | July 25, 2023 | Sexual Orientation
An Anchorage man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for hate-motivated vandalism and a drug trafficking offense.
In May 2021, the defendant placed stickers with a swastika and the text “WE ARE EVERYWHERE” at eight locations around Anchorage, including the Alaska Jewish Museum, the University of Alaska Anchorage campus, and a site associated with the LGBTQI+ community. In September, he returned to the Alaska Jewish Museum, where he placed another sticker and carved a swastika into the door.
During the investigation, investigators discovered that the defendant used social media to traffic drugs. Federal agents searched the defendant’s residence and recovered drugs, firearms, and Nazi-inspired imagery, including a box of swastika stickers.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ak/pr/alaska-man-sentenced-18-months-hate-crimes-drug-trafficking
Wisconsin | July 24, 2023 | Race
A Wisconsin man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for threatening his Black neighbors because of their race.
In March 2021, the defendant vandalized a Black woman’s vehicle parked outside her apartment by slashing her tires and smashing her windshield. He left a note on her car filled with racial slurs, threatened to slash her throat, and demanded she move out. A week later, he slashed her tires again, left another note filled with racial slurs, and gave her an ultimatum – move out of the neighborhood or suffer violence.
In April 2022, a Black woman and her two children moved into the defendant’s apartment complex. The defendant vandalized her front door with racial graffiti and left her a note calling her family by a racial slur and demanding that she leave the building.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/wisconsin-man-sentenced-making-racially-charged-threats-against-black-residents
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/wisconsin-man-pleads-guilty-making-racially-charged-threats-toward-black-residents
Texas | July 7, 2023 | Race, Ethnicity, National Origin
A Texas man was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences in prison for carrying out a mass shooting at the Cielo Vista Walmart in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 3, 2019, killing 23 people and injuring 22 more.
The defendant admitted that he killed and wounded people at the Walmart because of the national origin of the people he expected to be at the Walmart. He also admitted that he intended to kill everyone he shot.
The defendant wrote a manifesto and uploaded it to social media minutes before he launched his attack. In it, he characterized himself as a white nationalist, motivated to kill Hispanics because they were immigrating to the United States. He admitted selecting El Paso, a border city, as his target to stop Mexican and other Hispanic immigrants from coming to the United States.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-90-consecutive-life-sentences-2019-mass-shooting-walmart-el-paso-texas
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/pr/federal-grand-jury-el-paso-returns-superseding-indictment-against-patrick-crusius
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-pleads-guilty-90-federal-hate-crimes-and-firearms-violations-august-2019-mass
Video of Press Conference: https://www.justice.gov/opa/video/texas-man-charged-federal-hate-crimes-and-firearm-offenses-related-august-3-2019-mass
Remarks from Civil Rights Division: https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/remarks-assistant-attorney-general-eric-dreiband-announcing-united-states-v-patrick-wood
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/pr/texas-man-charged-federal-hate-crimes-and-firearm-offenses-related-august-3-2019-mass
Kansas, Tennessee | June 20, 2023 | Sexual Orientation
A Kansas man was charged with two hate crimes for threatening to attack a Nashville Pride event.
According to the charges, on April 26, 2023, the defendant posted comments on the social media account for Nashville Pride threatening to “make shrapnel pressure cooker bombs for this event.” In another comment posted the same day, the defendant threatened to “commit a mass shooting.”
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdtn/pr/kansas-man-facing-federal-charges-making-online-threats-toward-nashville-pride-event
Idaho, Oregon | June 15, 2023 | Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity
An Oregon man faces up to 45 months in prison after pleading guilty to two federal hate crimes.
On October 8, 2022, the defendant approached a transgender employee of the Boise Public Library, called her a slur, punched her, and threatened to stab her. He then drove his car at a security guard who was attempting to speak with him.
Four days later, while sitting in his car in a public parking lot, the defendant saw two women walking together toward another vehicle. Assuming that the women were lesbians, he began shouting threats and slurs at them, then suddenly accelerated his car toward the women, intending to collide with them. The women jumped out of the path of the oncoming car, which struck another vehicle.
As part of his plea agreement, the defendant also admitted that he was responsible for three other instances of anti-LGBTQI+ vandalism and violence in Boise in early October 2022.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/oregon-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-charges-bias-motivated-attacks-boise
Montana | June 14, 2023 | Sexual Orientation
A Montana man was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a series of hate-motivated attacks in Basin, Montana.
The defendant made it his mission to rid the town of Basin, Montana, of its lesbian and gay community. Armed with a rifle and other weapons, he approached the house of a woman that he knew identified as lesbian, firing several rounds into the property. The woman was home, but not hit.
Assuming the first victim was dead, the defendant approached other homes of people known locally to be gay or lesbian. He walked past a church that was letting out and was approached by several people who knew him and tried to intervene, including a pastor who was wearing a device to record his sermons. While the device was recording, the defendant admitted to the initial attack and described his intent to rid Basin of LGBTQI+ people.
He shot several more rounds at people in the vicinity before fleeing when law enforcement arrived. He was arrested the next day.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/montana-man-sentenced-federal-hate-and-firearms-crimes-shooting-intended-kill-and-rid-town
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/montana-man-convicted-federal-hate-crimes-and-firearms-charges-shooting-intended-rid
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/montana-man-indicted-federal-hate-crime-and-firearm-charges-0
Kansas | May 30, 2023 | Race
A grand jury charged a Kansas man with using death threats and racial slurs to intimidate Black people.
According to the charges, on July 27, 2022, the defendant showed a firearm and threatened two Black juveniles using racial slurs. Then, he threatened a Black adult with his firearm after they intervened.
From January to August 2022, the defendant told a white woman that he would hurt or kill any Black people who visited her home. He would occasionally stand outside her house and shout threats and racial slurs when he believed the woman had Black visitors. He is also charged with posting threatening videos and messages to the social media accounts of the victim’s family.
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kansas-man-indicted-using-guns-death-threats-and-racial-slurs-intimidate-black-people
Nevada | May 11, 2023 | National Origin, Religion
A Nevada man has been charged with hate crimes for the shooting and attempted bombing of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church.
According to the charges, on May 15, 2022, the defendant carried firearms into the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church to kill its congregants. Once inside, he shot and killed one person and attempted to kill 44 others. Five congregants were also injured by gunfire. The defendant allegedly targeted the church because of the congregants’ national origin and religion.
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nevada-man-charged-federal-hate-crimes-irvine-taiwanese-presbyterian-church-shooting
Minnesota | May 5, 2023 | Religion
A grand jury charged a Minnesota man for setting fire to a mosque.
According to the charges, on April 23, 2023, the defendant started a fire in the bathroom of the Masjid Omar Islamic Center. The next day, surveillance video captured the defendant returning to the mosque. Soon after his arrival, a much larger fire broke out on the third floor of the mosque causing significant damage and forcing dozens of people to evacuate.
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/minnesota-man-indicted-mosque-arson
Colorado | May 4, 2023 | Religion
A Colorado man pleaded guilty to a hate crime charge in connection with a church fire he set in Loveland, Colorado. The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.
According to the evidence, the defendant set the church on fire during the evening of January 19, 2023, by throwing two Molotov cocktails at the church – one at the front door and the other at the basement. The defendant admitted that he was motivated by the religious nature of the church and intended to destroy the church.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/colorado-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-church-arson
Ohio | April 26, 2023 | Religion
An Ohio man pleaded guilty to setting fire to a church, and now faces up to 20 years in prison.
According to evidence, the defendant broke into the Mount Zion Church in Baltimore, Ohio, on November 27, 2021, and spread an accelerant before setting the church on fire, which resulted in significant damage. During the hearing, the defendant admitted that he intentionally set the fire because of the religious character of the church.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-pleads-guilty-setting-fire-church
Ohio | April 24, 2023 | Religion, Sexual Orientation
An Ohio man was charged with using Molotov cocktails to burn a church in Chesterfield, Ohio that planned to host drag shows.
According to the charges, the defendant attempted to set fire to the church after learning that the church would be holding multiple drag show events the following weekend.
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-charged-attempting-burn-down-church-planned-host-drag-show-events
Indiana | April 20, 2023 | Race, National Origin
A grand jury charged an Indiana woman with a hate crime for a racially motivated attack on a woman of Chinese descent.
According to the indictment, on January 11, 2023, the defendant attacked the victim with a knife because of the victim’s race and national origin and injured her. The indictment also alleges that that the defendant attempted to kill the victim.
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indiana-woman-charged-federal-hate-crime-racially-motivated-attack-against-woman-chinese
Missouri | April 20, 2023 | Sexual Orientation
A Missouri man was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison without parole after pleading guilty for attempting to murder a teenager because of his sexual orientation.
According to the plea, after a chance meeting at the Kansas City Public Library on May 29, 2019, the defendant and victim talked briefly over Facebook Messenger. The defendant then went with the victim to the Swope Park area under the guise of looking for a place to engage in a sex act. Around the same time, the defendant wrote to his girlfriend that he “might shoot this boy” because of his sexual orientation. After arriving at a secluded area with the victim, the defendant shot the victim eight times.
The defendant fled from the woods toward his apartment and tried to avoid detection or arrest. Later that day, and in the days that followed, he told people that he shot the victim because of his sexual orientation.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/missouri-man-sentenced-hate-crime-attempted-murder-teen-because-his-sexual-orientation
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kansas-city-missouri-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-attempted-murder-teen
California, Massachusetts, New York | April 14, 2023 | Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity
A judge sentenced a Californian man to more than a year in prison for making anti-LGBTQ+ threats against the dictionary company Merriam-Webster, Inc., and others.
Between October 2 and October 8, 2021, the defendant made a series of threatening messages and comments. Some of the threats were about the word entries for “Girl” and “Woman”, and the defendant sent comments through the website threatening to bomb Merriam-Webster’s offices. These threats led Merriam-Webster to temporarily close its offices in Springfield, Massachusetts and New York City, New York.
The same online user made similar threats to others, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Land O’ Lakes, Hasbro, Inc., IGN Entertainment, the President of the University of North Texas, two professors at Loyola Marymount University, and a New York rabbi.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/california-man-sentenced-threatening-merriam-webster-anti-lgbtq-violence
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/california-man-pleads-guilty-threatening-merriam-webster-anti-lgbtq-violence
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/california-man-accused-threatening-merriam-webster-anti-lgbtq-violence-indicted
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/california-man-arrested-and-charged-making-threats-against-lgbtq-community
Texas | April 7, 2023 | Religion
A Texas man pleaded guilty to a hate crime and arson for setting fire to a synagogue. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
On October 31, 2021, the defendant was spotted on a surveillance video carrying a five-gallon container and toilet paper toward the synagogue. Moments later, a fire broke out. A security camera recorded the defendant jogging away from the fire. The defendant admitted that he targeted the synagogue because of his hatred of Jews, and kept a journal filled with antisemitic statements.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-and-arson-setting-fire-synagogue
Maryland | April 4, 2023 | Sexual Orientation
A Maryland man was charged with a hate crime for using a telephone to threaten an LGBTQI+ advocacy group.
According to the charges, on the evening of March 28, 2023, the organization received a voicemail saying “…We’ll cut your throats. We’ll put a bullet in your head.” Investigators discovered that the voicemail was left by a phone number belonging to the defendant.
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/howard-county-man-facing-federal-charges-allegedly-making-threatening-phone-call-lgbtq
Georgia | March 16, 2023 | Race, National Origin
A judge sentenced a Georgia man to 20 years in prison for shooting into two Clayton County convenience stores and attempting to kill the people inside because of their race.
According to evidence, the defendant first fired his pistol into a Shell gas station convenience store. Minutes later, he fired into a nearby BP gas station convenience store. No one was injured in either shooting.
The defendant admitted that he was targeting Black people and others he thought were Arab, and he hoped to kill them. He also admitted to believing in a white supremacist ideology.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/georgia-white-supremacist-sentenced-federal-hate-crime-racially-motivated-shootings
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/georgia-man-ties-white-supremacist-organization-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-racially
Michigan, Texas | March 9, 2023 | Religion
A grand jury charged a Michigan man for threatening to kill Jewish people who work in the Michigan government using Twitter.
According to the charges, on February 17, 2023, the defendant tweeted a series of threats while in Texas, including “I’m heading back to Michigan now threatening to carry out the punishment of death to anyone that is jewish in the Michigan govt if they don’t leave, or confess.”
These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/michigan-resident-indicted-hate-crime-threatening-kill-jewish-government-officials
Mississippi | March 9, 2023 | Religion
A judge sentenced a Mississippi man to more than three years in prison after the man pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and arson charges.
According to the plea, on December 3, 2020, the defendant made racial slurs toward his Black neighbors, then burned a cross near their property to intimidate them.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/mississippi-man-sentenced-federal-hate-crime-cross-burning
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/mississippi-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-cross-burning
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/mississippi-man-charged-federal-hate-crime-cross-burning
New York | March 3, 2023 | Religion, National Origin
A New York man was sentenced to more than a year in prison for conspiring to attack New Yorkers because of their actual or perceived Jewish or Israeli identity.
According to evidence, the defendant conspired with others to commit Antisemitic hate crimes in New York City. On three separate occasions, the defendant assaulted people who were wearing religious clothing or items associated with Judaism or Israel.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/staten-island-man-sentenced-18-months-prison-conspiracy-commit-antisemitic-hate-crimes
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/antisemitic-assailant-pleads-guilty-conspiracy-commit-hate-crimes
Hawaii | March 3, 2023 | Race
A judge sentenced two Hawaiian men to more than four years in prison for their racially motivated attacks on a white man who was moving into Kahakuloa Village.
At trial, evidence showed the victim was harassed and threatened by other residents of Kahakuloa Village. On February 13, 2014, while unpacking in his new home, the defendants stormed onto his property and demanded that he pack his things and leave. When the victim declined, one of the defendants threatened the victim and hit him in the head with a shovel. Later, as the victim began packing up his possessions to leave, the defendants attacked him a second time.
During the second attack, the defendants hit the victim in the head again, and the victim became unconscious. When he came to, the attackers were kicking him in the side—kicks that broke two of his ribs. During the second attack, one of the defendants said, “no white man is ever going to live here.”
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-hi/pr/two-maui-men-sentenced-racially-motivated-attack-white-man
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-maui-men-convicted-hate-crimes-racially-motivated-attack-white-man
District of Columbia | February 2, 2023 | Race, Gender
A District man has been found guilty on charges stemming from a hate crime in which he spit in the face of a female neighbor in Southwest Washington.
According to evidence, on July 20, 2020, at approximately 2 p.m., the victim, a Black woman, was walking her service dog and crossing the exit ramp of her apartment complex. The defendant drove his SUV up the exit ramp at a high rate of speed, almost hitting the victim and her dog. After the victim told him to be careful, he began screaming racist and sexist epithets.
The man spit into the victim’s face, and drove away. He was arrested 23 days later after being identified. The man had a history of racist tirades against his Black neighbors.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/district-man-found-guilty-bias-related-assault-african-american-woman
New Jersey | February 1, 2023 | Religion
A man in New Jersey allegedly went to a synagogue in the middle of the night and maliciously attempted to damage and destroy it using a firebomb.
Surveillance footage shows the defendant walking up to the Temple Ner Tamid Jewish Congregation in Bloomfield, New Jersey and igniting a wick on the top of a bottle. He then threw the bottle at the front glass doors of the temple and fled on foot.
The defendant has been charged with one count of attempted use of fire to damage and destroy a building used in interstate commerce. He faces a up to 20 years in prison.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/passaic-county-man-arrested-attempt-firebomb-synagogue
Idaho, Oregon, Washington | January 30, 2023 | Race, Ethnicity
Four men have pleaded guilty to hate crime and false statement charges in Washington for assaulting a Black man because of his race. The defendants were members of various white supremacist groups.
On Dec. 8, 2018, the four men entered a bar in Lynnwood, Washington. The men repeatedly gave “Nazi salutes” once inside the bar. After the DJ, a Black man, objected to the men touching his DJ equipment, the defendants attacked him while shouting racial slurs. Bystanders, who attempted to intervene, were also assaulted.
The hate crime carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/four-washington-state-men-sentenced-hate-crime-and-false-statement-charges-after-racially
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/idaho-white-supremacist-who-assaulted-black-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-and-false-statement
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/oregon-white-supremacist-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-and-false-statement-charges-connection
Louisiana | January 25, 2023 | Sexual Orientation
A Louisiana man was sentenced to 45 years in prison for kidnapping and attempting to murder a gay man as part of a months-long scheme to kidnap and murder gay men.
According to evidence, the defendant attempted to kidnap one man and successfully kidnapped two other men using Grindr, an online dating application for gay and bisexual men. The defendant attempted to murder one of the men, intending to dismember and keep the victim’s body parts.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/louisiana-man-sentenced-45-years-kidnapping-and-attempting-murder-gay-man-part-hate-crime
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/louisiana-man-indicted-attempted-murder-gay-man-and-plot-kidnap-and-murder-other-gay-men
Florida | January 25, 2023 | Race
Two Florida men were sentenced for hate crime charges in connection with their racially-motivated attack against a Black man in Citrus Springs.
According to the plea, on Nov. 17, 2021, the two men traveled to the Family Dollar in Citrus Springs, where the victim, a Black man, was shopping inside. The two men targeted the victim with racial slurs. They followed the victim into the parking lot where they attacked him with an axe handle.
Both men directed racial slurs towards the victim before, during, and after the attack.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-florida-men-sentenced-racially-motivated-hate-crime-following-violent-assault-black-man
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/second-florida-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-racially-motivated-attack-black-man-using
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-florida-men-charged-federal-hate-crime-violently-attacking-black-man-while-shouting
Idaho | January 12, 2023 | Sexual Orientation
A man in Idaho has been charged with a hate crime after attempting to hit two people with his car. Allegedly, the defendant targeted the two victims because of their actual and perceived sexual orientation.
The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
An indictment is a serious accusation. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/idaho-man-indicted-federal-hate-crime-against-lgbtq-residents-boise
Washington | December 16, 2022 | Race
A Washington man was sentenced in federal court to two years in prison after pleading guilty to making threatening phone calls to businesses in four states.
The man called grocery stores in Buffalo, New York, and threatened to shoot Black people in the stores. He told staff at the stores to “take him seriously,” and ordered the store to clear out the customers, as he was “nearby” and “preparing to shoot all Black customers.” One store closed. The threats followed a racially-motivated shooting at another Buffalo grocery store in May. Law enforcement traced the phone number and identified the person who made the call.
The man had placed similar threatening calls to business in other states. He told law enforcement that he made the threats to strike fear in the Black community.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/lynnwood-washington-man-sentenced-prison-making-multiple-threatening-phone-calls
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/washington-man-pleads-guilty-making-interstate-threats-and-hate-crime
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/lynnwood-washington-man-arrested-allegedly-making-interstate-threats-racially-motivated
District of Columbia | December 16, 2022 | Race, National Origin
A District man pleaded guilty today, mid-trial, to charges stemming from two assaults.
According to the plea, the defendant assaulted the first victim on May 15, 2022, at the Dupont Circle Metro Station. During this assault, he targeted the victim, hit the victim with a metal object, and then made derogatory statements about the victim’s ethnicity.
The second assault took place on May 22, 2022, when the defendant targeted another victim inside of a Metro Station, kicked the victim in the back while descending the escalator, followed the victim throughout the station, and assaulted the victim again, all the while making derogatory comments directed at the victim’s race and ethnicity.
When he was arrested, the defendant made a number of racist and xenophobic statements.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/district-man-pleads-guilty-mid-trial-hate-crimes-charges
Massachusetts | December 15, 2022 | Gender Identity
A federal grand jury indicted a Texas man for threatening a Boston doctor because the doctor provided care for members of the transgender community.
The government alleges that misinformation spread online about procedures at Boston Children’s Hospital for gender nonconforming children. The defendant called the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center in Boston, and left a threatening voicemail targeting one of the Center’s doctors.
The defendant faces a sentence of up to five years of prison.
An indictment is a serious accusation. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/texas-man-indicted-threatening-doctor-affiliated-national-lgbtqia-health-education
Washington | December 14, 2022 | Religion
A federal grand jury indicted a Washington man for three arsons that damaged or destroyed Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Halls in Washington State.
The government alleges that the defendant set fire to Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Halls on three occasions in 2018 because of the religious nature of the properties. The Kingdom Halls were defaced, damaged, and destroyed through arsons.
The defendant was charged before with damage to religious property and use of a firearm in connection with a shooting that damaged a Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall in Yelm, Washington.
An indictment is a serious accusation. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/olympia-washington-man-indicted-hate-crimes-arsons-jehovah-s-witness-kingdom-halls
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/washington-man-charged-hate-crime-shooting-and-damaging-jehovah-s-witness-kingdom-hall
Michigan | December 13, 2022 | Race
A Michigan man pleaded guilty to two hate crimes for attempting to intimidate people from engaging in lawful speech and protests supporting Black Lives Matter.
According to the evidence, the defendant called nine Starbucks stores in Michigan and told the employees answering his calls to relay racial threats to Starbucks employees wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts. He also threatened to kill Black people, using racial slurs to refer to his targets.
The defendant also pleaded guilty to placing a noose inside the vehicle of two of the victims. He attached a handwritten note to the noose: “An accessory to be worn with your ‘BLM’ t-shirt. Happy protesting!”
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/michigan-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crimes-death-threats-targeting-black-lives-matter-supporters
Florida | November 7, 2022 | Race
A federal court sentenced a Florida man to 24 months in prison for attacking a Black man who was driving with his family in Seminole, Florida.
According to evidence, the defendant shouted racial slurs at the victim and sideswiped his car while attempting to force the car off the road. The victim’s girlfriend and four-year-old daughter were in the car at the time.
When officers from the Pinellas County Sherriff’s Office arrived on the scene, the defendant made numerous statements evidencing his bias motive, telling the officers that Black people need to be kept “in their areas.”
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/florida-man-sentenced-racially-motivated-hate-crime
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/florida-man-found-guilty-hate-crime-racially-motivated-attack-against-black-man-driving-his
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/florida-man-charged-hate-crimes-following-use-vehicle-racially-motivated-attack-against-black
Texas | October 19, 2022 | Religion
A federal grand jury indicted a Texas man for killing one person and attempting to kill four others during an attack at Omar’s Wheels and Tires, a Muslim-owned business, because of their religious beliefs.
According to evidence, the defendant went to Omar’s Wheels and Tires on December 24, 2015, shot and killed one person and attempted to kill three other people. As he was leaving, he attempted to kill a fourth person with his vehicle.
An indictment is a serious accusation. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-indicted-hate-crime-shooting
Ohio | October 11, 2022 | Gender
An Ohio man pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to commit a hate crime, which, because it involved an attempt to kill, is punishable by up to life in prison.
The man had plotted to shoot sorority students at a university in Ohio, identifying himself as an “incel” or “involuntary celibate.” The incel movement is an online community that seeks to commit violence against women in support of their belief that they have been unjustly denied sexual or romantic attention.
According to the charges, the defendant allegedly wrote a manifesto stating he would “slaughter” women “out of hatred, jealousy, and revenge” and later conducted surveillance at the university. He also maintained profiles on a popular incel website, drafting hundreds of posts. Law enforcement found guns, ammunition, body armor, and other tactical equipment in the defendant’s residence and car.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/highland-county-man-pleads-guilty-attempting-hate-crime
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-charged-hate-crime-related-plot-conduct-mass-shooting-women-illegal-possession
Missouri | August 8, 2022 | Religion
A man from St. Louis admitted threatening to blow up a St. Louis synagogue in 2021.
The defendant admitted to calling the St. Louis office of the FBI on Nov. 5, 2021 and saying, “I’m going to blow up a church.” He gave his name and identified his target as the Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis, saying he would act the next morning, while people were inside.
The defendant continued to contact the FBI with threats, saying he hated Jewish people “with rage.” In a third call, he gave his location, which was on the same street as the targeted Church. Officers arrested the man without further incident.
The charges carry a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/st-louis-man-admits-threatening-blow-st-louis-synagogue
Texas | August 4, 2022 | Race
A Texas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison on hate crime charges for attacking an Asian family he believed was Chinese and therefore responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The man admitted that he entered Sam’s Club Warehouse in Midland, Texas, behind an Asian family with young children on March 14, 2020. He had never seen the family before and believed they were Chinese. He followed the family for several minutes because he thought they were “from the country who started spreading that disease around.” He found a serrated steak knife in the store, and cut the father in the face. He left the scene, only to retrieve another knife from the store. When he returned, he attacked the family’s two young children – then aged 6 and 2 years old – who were seated in the front basket of the shopping cart, slashing open the face of the six-year-old child. He also stabbed a Sam’s Club employee who intervened. While witnesses held the man down, he yelled “Get out of America!” at the family. The defendant admitted attempting to kill the 6-year-old child. He also admitted that he attacked the store employee because they prevented him from killing the child.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-hate-crime-charges-attacking-asian-family
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-charges-attacking-asian-family
New Jersey | July 19, 2022 | Race
A New Jersey man was sentenced for using an anonymizing text message service to threaten physical harm to a Black woman and her family in Maryland.
According to the plea, on April 14, 2020, the man began sending threatening messages, including racial epithets, to describe the Maryland woman and her family. He threatened to come to their home and harm them. The defendant wrote, among other things, that “I know where you live now, I’m coming to rape your family” and “eat my bullets.”
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/new-jersey-man-sentenced-sending-threatening-communications-black-maryland-woman-and-her
District of Columbia | July 14, 2022 | Sexual Orientation
A federal grand jury indicted a District man for assaulting four men because of their perceived sexual orientation.
The indictment alleges that on five separate evenings from 2018 to 2021, the man went to a meeting place for men seeking consensual sex with other men, and assaulted men with a chemical irritant. Before spraying the men, he pretended to be a Park Police officer, shined a flashlight in the victims’ faces and gave the victims police-style directives.
The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for each assault.
An indictment is a serious accusation. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/maryland-man-indicted-bias-motivated-assaults-men-washington-dc-park
New York | July 14, 2022 | Race
A federal grand jury indicted a New York man in connection with the mass shooting at the Tops grocery store on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, New York.
The indictment alleges that on or about May 14, the man opened fire and shot multiple individuals in and around the Tops grocery store, which resulted in the deaths of 10 Black people, as well as injury to three others.
The defendant faces up to life in prison or the death penalty.
An indictment is a serious accusation. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-grand-jury-indicts-accused-tops-shooter-federal-hate-crimes-and-firearms-charges
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/accused-tops-shooter-charged-federal-hate-crimes-and-using-firearm-commit-murder
Kansas | June 29, 2022 | Race
A Kansas man was sentenced today to 27 months in federal prison and 18 months of supervised release for threatening a Black man with a knife because of the man’s race.
According to evidence, the defendant was driving through a residential area in Paola, Kansas, when he saw the victim walking on the sidewalk. The defendant stopped, got out of the car, and approached the victim with a knife. Threatening the victim, the defendant yelled racial slurs, and told the victim that Paola is a “white town.”
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kansas-man-sentenced-violent-racially-motivated-hate-crime-targeting-black-man
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kansas-man-pleads-guilty-racially-motivated-federal-hate-crime-targeting-black-man
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kansas-man-indicted-hate-crime-racially-motivated-threat-minor-and-unlawfully-possessing
Washington | May 26, 2022 | Sexual Orientation
A Washington man pleaded guilty to a hate crime for the Feb. 24, 2020, arson at Queer/Bar, a nightclub and event space in Seattle, Washington.
According to the plea, the man set fire to the contents of a dumpster in the alley directly behind Queer/Bar on Feb. 24, 2020. He was arrested only minutes after setting the fire. He admitted to law enforcement that he set the fire and that he targeted Queer/Bar because it angered him to see a sign that said “queer.” He also told officers, “I think it’s wrong that we have a bunch of queers in our society.” A few weeks after the incident, the defendant told a stranger that his intent in setting the fire was to trap and hurt the people inside.
The defendant faces up to 10 years in prison.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/washington-man-pleads-guilty-committing-hate-crime-arson-seattle-nightclub
California | May 12, 2022 | Race
A Diamond Bar man was arrested on federal charges alleging that he disrupted a “Stop Asian Hate” rally in March 2021 by deliberately running a red light, blocking the path of demonstrators and yelling racial epithets at them.
According to the charges, on March 21, 2021, a “Stop Asian Hate” rally occurred in Diamond Bar. The rally was a protest against the increase in hate crimes and hate incidents against members of the Asian American Pacific Islander community both locally and nationally – including the murders of six Asian American women five days earlier in Atlanta.
During the rally, the defendant allegedly yelled, “Go back to China!” and other racial slurs at the demonstrators. Allegedly, he then deliberately drove his car through the intersection’s crosswalk at the red light, made an illegal U-turn and cut off the route of several rally participants lawfully crossing the street. His car narrowly missing a 9-year old, and others.
The defendant pulled his car over some distance away from the intersection, got out of the car and continued to yell racial epithets and threats at the demonstrators. He then called the police, identified himself as “John Doe” and falsely reported to police that the rally participants were blocking the street and he had to run a red light “because they were about to trample my car,” the indictment alleges. He also allegedly requested that police “get some control out” at the intersection.
If convicted of the two charges in the indictment, the defendant could face up to 20 years in prison.
An indictment is a serious accusation. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/diamond-bar-man-arrested-indictment-charging-him-using-his-car-intimidate-demonstrators
Virginia | April 29, 2022 | Race, National Origin
A jury found a Virginia man guilty for a hate crime in in his attack on two Hispanic construction workers.
Evidence showed that on July 13, 2019, at about 6 p.m., the victims were closing their construction site for the day. The defendant approached the men and asked to use their power washer.
When the workers did not allow the defendant to borrow the power washer, he became enraged and began screaming racist epithets. He picked up a construction tool with a sharp metal blade, and tried to stab one of the men. A second victim tried to intervene, but he was struck in the face several times causing serious injuries.
For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/hatebias-related-crimes
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/district-man-sentenced-prison-bias-related-attack-construction-workers
Oregon | April 25, 2022 | Race, Sexual Orientation
A jury sentenced an Oregon white supremacist to four years in prison for mailing threats to a former teacher because of her sexual orientation.
Between December 2020 and May 2021, the man sent two threatening letters. The first contained a printout of what appeared to be a dead, mutilated woman. Handwriting on the image included racial and sexual orientation slurs and stated, “What I’d like to do to you.” The second letter contained another photograph of a decapitated woman in a black trunk.
After identifying fingerprints on the letters, in May 2021, the FBI searched the defendant’s house. Agents found body armor, weapons, and a black trunk like the one depicted in his second letter. The house contained literature and handbooks on death, dismemberment, murder, torture, and sexually-motivated killings. Investigators also found evidence that the defendant was a white supremacist, and that he ran a white supremacist website. On January 4, 2022, the defendant pled guilty to two counts of mailing threatening communications.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-or/pr/eugene-white-supremacist-sentenced-federal-prison-mailing-threatening-communications
Florida | April 19, 2022 | Religion
A Florida man pled guilty to threatening a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
On July 16, 2019, the defendant sent an email to U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar threatening to kill her. The subject line of his email read, “[You’re] dead, you radical Muslim.” He referred to Congresswoman Omar and her colleagues as “radical rats,” and asked her if she was prepared “to die for Islam.” The email further stated that he was going to shoot her in the head.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/florida-man-pleads-guilty-federal-charges-hate-motivated-threats-against-us-member-congress
Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota | April 12, 2022 | Religion
A federal judge sentenced two men to prison for their roles in the 2017 bombing of the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. Two other defendants have pled guilty to their roles in the bombing.
During the summer of 2017, the defendants joined a terrorist militia group called “The White Rabbits” in Clarence, Illinois. On August 4th and 5th, the group drove a rented truck from Illinois to Minnesota to bomb the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center. The defendants selected the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center to terrorize Muslims into believing they are not welcome in the United States and should leave the country. On August 5, the group bombed the Islamic Center. At the time of the bombing, several worshipers were gathered in the mosque for morning prayers.
On November 7, 2017, the group also attempted to set fire to the Women’s Health Practice in Champaign, Illinois. They used a sledgehammer to break a window and placed a device in the building to start a fire. The device did not ignite and was found by a Women’s Health Practice employee.
The two men face between 14 and 16 years in prison for their crimes.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/federal-jury-convicts-illinois-man-bombing-dar-al-farooq-islamic-center
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/two-illinois-men-sentenced-prison-their-roles-bombing-dar-al-farooq-islamic-center
Washington | April 8, 2022 | Race
The second of four prospective members of a white supremacist group admitted to beating a Black man, and lying to investigators about using racial slurs.
According to the plea agreement, the defendants were prospective members of a white supremacist group. The men traveled to the Seattle area to celebrate a known white supremacist who died in the 1980s. On December 8, 2018, the men went to a bar in Lynnwood, Washington, assaulting a Black man who was working there as a DJ. The group assaulted two other men who came to the DJ’s aid. The attackers shouted racial slurs and made Nazi salutes during the assault.
In admitting his guilt, the defendant also admitted that he lied to the FBI when he claimed that the defendants did not use racial slurs during the assault.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, both sides recommend a 37-month prison term for the defendant.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/second-four-men-charged-racially-motivated-hate-crime-enters-guilty-plea
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/four-indicted-hate-crimes-and-false-statements-after-racially-motivated-assault
Indictment:https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/press-release/file/1347166/download
Texas | March 24, 2022 | Religion
A federal grand jury indicted a man for intentionally setting fire to the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Austin on October 31, 2021.
According to evidence, on October 31, 2021, a man set fire to the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue. Security video from that day shows the man moving toward the synagogue’s sanctuary. Moments later, video shows the glow of fire coming from the sanctuary. Then, it shows the man jogging away from the fire to an open vehicle.
No one was injured, but the fire caused over $200,000 in damage. The vehicle seen in the surveillance video was later traced to the defendant. On November 10, 2021, the FBI searched his house. During the search, agents found items like those seen on security videos, including the clothing worn by the defendant. The defendant also had journals with writings about the fire and his hatred of Jewish people.
The defendant faces at least 10 years and up to 60 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or twice the loss suffered by the victim, and additional fees for the amount of damage caused.
An indictment is a serious accusation. A defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-charged-civil-rights-violations-setting-fire-synagogue
California | March 7, 2022 | National Origin
A federal court sentenced two men to prison for hate crimes after their attack on a family-owned Turkish restaurant in 2020.
Turkey and Armenia are neighboring countries in western Asia that have a long history of conflict. In September 2020, tensions in Turkish and Armenian communities escalated worldwide, including in the United States.
The defendants, who are Armenian-American, sent text messages stating that they planned to go “hunting for [T]urks.” Later that day, the men met with Armenian-American friends to protest what they considered to be Turkish aggression against Armenians, expressing their contempt for Turkey, and showing support for Armenia. The group drove to the restaurant, and the defendants stormed inside, attacking several people inside. During the attack, multiple victims were injured, including one individual who lost feeling in their legs and collapsed multiple times due to their injuries. One of the defendants asked the victims, “Are you Turkish?” and shouted, “We came to kill you! We will kill you!”
The attack caused at least $20,000 of damage to the restaurant and physically injured multiple victims. The defendants owe their victims $21,200 to pay for the damage.
A federal judge sentenced the one of the men to five years in prison and the other to 15 months in prison for the attack.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/federal-prison-sentences-two-socal-men-who-targeted-turkish-victims-hate-crime-attack
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-agrees-plead-guilty-federal-hate-crime-case-attacking-family-owned-restaurant
Georgia | February 22, 2022 | Race, Color
A jury found three Georgia men guilty of hate crimes and attempted kidnapping in the pursuit and killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a young Black man who was jogging on a public road.
Seeing Mr. Arbery jogging, two of the defendants armed themselves, got into a truck, and chased him through the neighborhood. They yelled at him, used their truck to cut off his route, and threatened him with guns. The third defendant joined the chase, and all three men tried to prevent Mr. Arbery from leaving after surrounding him. In the ensuing struggle, one of the men shot and killed Mr. Arbery as he attempted to escape.
An important part of the trial was proving that the defendants acted because of Mr. Arbery's race. Evidence showed that each defendant held racist beliefs that led them to assume, without reason, that Mr. Arbery was a criminal.
All three defendants face sentences of up to life in prison.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/three-georgia-men-charged-federal-hate-crimes-and-attempted-kidnapping-connection-death
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-jury-finds-three-men-guilty-hate-crimes-connection-pursuit-and-killing-ahmaud-arbery
Tennessee | February 16, 2022 | Religion
A federal court sentenced a Tennessee man to seven years in prison for setting fire to four Nashville area churches.
According to evidence, the man intentionally set fire to the Crievewood United Methodist Church on June 17, 2019; the Crievewood Baptist Church on June 25, 2019; the Saint Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church on June 25, 2019; and the Priest Lake Community Baptist Church on June 26, 2019, all because of their religious character. The fires resulted in significant damage to all four churches.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/tennessee-man-sentenced-seven-years-series-church-arsons
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/tennessee-man-charged-civil-rights-violations-series-church-arsons
Massachusetts | February 16, 2022 | Religion
A federal grand jury indicted a man for making false statements and concealing evidence in a domestic terrorism investigation.
The defendant’s brother was a suspect in four bias-motivated fires set in the Boston area. The fires damaged four Jewish-affiliated community centers and businesses.
In March 2020, federal investigators asked the man about his brother's personal property. The defendant allegedly misled investigators, lying about the location of evidence. Shortly after talking with investigators, the defendant fled the country. Allegedly, taking his brother’s electronic devices and papers with him to Sweden.
The defendant faces up to 8 years in prison for making false statements. He faces up to 20 years for concealing evidence.
An indictment is a serious accusation. A defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/massachusetts-man-indicted-obstructing-investigation-fires-jewish-affiliated-institutions
District of Columbia | February 14, 2022 | National Origin
A District man pled guilty to a bias-related assault and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon.
According to the evidence, the defendant entered a Chipotle restaurant and asked an employee how much food he could buy with about $8. The employee tried to assist, but due to a language barrier, she asked her manager to help the man. Not satisfied, the man began yelling a series of xenophobic, ethnic, and transphobic slurs at the employees.
He climbed onto the service counter and spit on the employee. He began throwing food and serving spoons at the employee, striking her in the hand. The defendant continued yelling slurs throughout the incident. Finally, as he moved towards the exit, he shouted that he was going to return and kill the employees.
The court sentenced the defendant to 450 days in prison. He will serve less time if he completes a year of probation and participates in mental health treatment.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/district-man-pleads-guilty-bias-related-assault-confrontation-employees-fast-food
Maine, Massachusetts | February 10, 2022 | Race
A federal grand jury indicted a Maine man for setting fire to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Massachusetts. The church serves a predominantly Black congregation.
The government alleges that the man is also responsible for a string of other crimes leading up to burning the church. Setting fires on the church’s property and a series of tire slashings. A search of the defendant’s vehicle and electronic devices revealed his hatred of Black people. His phone contained a recent message calling to “eliminate all N****s.”
The defendant faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 for using fire to damage religious property, and faces a sentence of at least 10 years in prison for using fire to commit a federal felony.
An indictment is a serious accusation. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/maine-man-charged-hate-crime-offenses-arson-predominantly-black-church
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/maine-man-indicted-hate-crime-offenses-relating-burning-black-church-springfield
Arizona, Florida, Texas, Washington | January 11, 2022 | Religion
A federal court sentenced a Washington man to seven years in prison for his role in a plot to threaten journalists and advocates. The man, a leader of the Neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, targeted people who were working against anti-Semitism. Three others pled guilty for their roles in the plot in prior hearings.
According to evidence, the participants in this plot made threatening posters. The posters contained Nazi symbols, threatening language and imagery. The posters were then distributed to members of Atomwaffen Division online. Members of the hate-group then delivered or mailed the posters to targeted journalists and advocates.
In Seattle, the group sent posters to a TV journalist who had reported on Atomwaffen Division. The posters were also sent to members of the Anti-Defamation League, a leading Jewish civil rights organization. The group also targeted journalists in Phoenix and Tampa for reporting on anti-Semitism.
Complaint: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/press-release/file/1252306/download
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/arrests-four-states-racially-motivated-violent-extremists-targeting-journalists-and
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/leader-neo-nazi-group-sentenced-plot-target-journalists-and-advocates
California | December 28, 2021 | Religion
A federal court sentenced a California man to life followed by 30 years in prison for his attack on a Poway synagogue. The man pled guilty to over 100 charges for killing one woman, injuring three people, and attempting to kill more than 50.
According to evidence, the defendant set fire to the Dur-ul-Arqam Mosque on March 24, 2019. A month later, he went to the Chabad of Poway Synagogue with a loaded semi-automatic rifle and ammunition. He opened fire on the congregants, killing one and injuring three others. The defendant fled the scene, but law enforcement later caught him and discovered the rifle and ammunition in his car.
A later search of his computer, uncovered a document where he admitted to setting fire to the Dur-ul-Arqam Mosque. He also wrote that the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting inspired him to burn the mosque and attack the synagogue.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-charged-federal-hate-crimes-poway-synagogue-shooting
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-sentenced-life-followed-30-years-prison-federal-hate-crimes-related-2019-poway
Illinois | December 7, 2021 | Religion
A federal grand jury charged two inmates at Thomson Penitentiary in Thompson, Illinois, with hate crimes and related charged in the beating death of a fellow inmate.
According to the indictment, the two men were members of a white supremacist group called the Valhalla Bound Skinheads. Allegedly, the men attacked the victim because he was Jewish. They beat him even after he was unable to defend himself.
Three of the charges, conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder, and hate crimes, carry sentences of up to life in prison.
An indictment is a serious accusation. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Indictment: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/press-release/file/1453996/download
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/federal-indictment-charges-two-thomson-penitentiary-inmates-murder-and-hate-crime
California | December 3, 2021 | Race, Color
A federal court sentenced a California man to more than six years in prison for a hate crime for attacking a Black man in Santa Cruz, California.
According to evidence, the defendant slashed the victim with a nine-inch knife. He cut the victim on his head, chest, and stomach, while yelling racial slurs.
The defendant had a history of committing violent acts while yelling racial slurs. This was his fourth known attack against Black men in the last seven years.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-sentenced-more-six-years-prison-federal-hate-crime-conviction
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-convicted-federal-hate-crime-attempting-stab-black-man
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-charged-federal-hate-crime-attempting-stab-Black-man
Ohio | November 23, 2021 | Religion
A federal court sentenced a former Columbus man to six months in prison and a $50,000 fine for a hate crime.
According to evidence, the man threatened his neighbors and their guests during an outdoor gathering in November, 2020. During the confrontation, he made a series of references to gassing Jewish people, chopping them up, and burning them in ovens. He threatened to poison and shoot their dog, and “burn to the ground” a garage that the neighbors were remodeling. He shouted more anti-Semitic slurs, spat at one of the neighbors, and broke one of their windows.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/former-columbus-man-sentenced-prison-hate-crime-involved-making-antisemitic-threats
New Jersey | November 16, 2021 | Race, Religion
A federal court sentenced a New Jersey man to one year and one day in prison for conspiring with members of a white supremacist hate group.
After joining the white supremacist group, “The Base," he began encouraging members to vandalize properties connected with African Americans and Jewish Americans.
The group called their plan “Kristallnacht,” or “Night of Broken Glass.” Kristallnacht was a notorious 1938 attack in which Nazis murdered Jewish people and destroyed their homes, synagogues, stores, and schools.
On September 21, 2019, members of “The Base” vandalized synagogues in Racine, Wisconsin, and Hancock, Michigan, spray painting them with hate symbols.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-jersey-man-sentenced-one-year-and-one-day-prison-conspiring-white-supremacists-vandalize
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-jersey-man-admits-conspiring-white-supremacists-vandalize-synagogues-across-country
Oregon | November 16, 2021 | Sexual Orientation
Federal prosecutors charged an Oregon man with a hate crime for using the internet to target and assault a gay man. The complaint alleges that he tried to kill the victim.
According to court documents, the defendant met his victim using Grindr, a social media and networking app designed for gay men. On July 5, after agreeing to meet, he entered the victim’s apartment and beat him with a wooden club. The victim’s injuries were life-threatening.
In the weeks before the attack, the defendant searched for violent anti-gay material on the internet. He also searched for suggestions about getting away with murder. The defendant purchased the weapon and other materials used in the attack online.
Charges contained in a criminal complaint are serious. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/oregon-man-charged-federal-hate-crime-after-attacking-gay-man
Texas | October 13, 2021 | Sexual Orientation
Four Texas men have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a scheme to target gay men for violent crimes: one to more than 11 years, another to 22 years, a third to 20 years, and most recently, a fourth was sentenced to more than 23 years.
The four defendants admitted that they conspired to target men in and around Dallas for violent crimes. Using Grindr, a social media dating platform used primarily by gay men, the defendants lured men to an apartment complex in Dallas. When the men arrived, the defendants held the men at gunpoint and forced them to drive to local ATMs to withdraw cash from their accounts. While the victims were held at gunpoint, some were physically assaulted, at least one victim was sexually assaulted, and all of the victims were taunted with gay slurs.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-hate-crime-and-other-charges-after-using-dating-app-target-gay-men
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/three-texas-men-sentenced-prison-using-dating-app-target-gay-men-violent-crimes
Ohio | September 13, 2021 | Religion
An Ohio man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and attempting to commit a hate crime.
The defendant planned to target Jewish congregants at a Toledo-area synagogue while they worshipped. He met online and in person with undercover FBI agents over several months to discuss these plans. During those meetings, he stated that he wanted to kill a rabbi and that he had conducted research to determine when the Jewish sabbath was so that more people would be present. He was arrested after taking possession of two semi-automatic rifles.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-sentenced-20-years-prison-attempting-provide-material-support-isis-and-attempting-commit
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-pleads-guilty-attempting-provide-material-support-isis-and-attempting-commit-attack
Maine | September 10, 2021 | Race
A Maine man was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty for his role in a series of race-based attacks on Black men.
The first attack occurred without any clear cause outside of a bar in Portland, Maine. The assault, which broke the victim’s jaw, was immediately followed by an attack on another Black man who was standing nearby.
In a second incident, which occurred at a convenience store about an hour later and miles away, the defendant and his uncle approached a Black man who was walking toward the store’s entrance. As the uncle of the defendant distracted the victim by shouting a racial slur, the defendant sucker-punched the victim, knocking him to the ground. The attack broke the victim’s jaw in several places.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/maine-man-sentenced-committing-and-conspiring-commit-federal-hate-crime
Oregon | September 9, 2021 | Race
A Colorado man was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for a federal hate crime after attempting to kill a Black man in an Oregon restaurant.
On December 21, 2019, the defendant walked into a fast food restaurant where the victim was waiting to meet with the restaurant manager about a job. The defendant approached the victim from behind and stabbed him twice in the neck. The victim was able to prevent the defendant from stabbing him again and eventually broke free from his grip.
The defendant later admitted that he was trying to kill the man because he was Black.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/colorado-man-sentenced-16-years-federal-prison-unprovoked-stabbing-black-man
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/colorado-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-after-unprovoked-stabbing-black-man
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/colorado-man-charged-hate-crime-after-unprovoked-stabbing-Black-man
New York | August 25, 2021 | Religion
In November 2019, a woman, who is Jewish, began receiving numerous threatening text messages, voicemails and Facebook posts. In several text messages and voicemails, which continued until June 2020, the defendant threatened to murder and seriously injure the woman. He also threatened to blow up her house and car. Some of the threatening text messages contained anti-Semitic references to the Holocaust.
On December 23, 2019, the first day of Hannukah, the defendant sent the woman a message that included the words “Suns about to go down. It would be a shame if your house were used to light the menorah. Or turned in a gas chamber.” On April 8, 2020, the first day of Passover, he wrote “I’m going to kill you. You better be gone because if you’re in [the victim’s housing community] Easter weekend I’m going to stick you in an oven. Or I’m going to shoot you . . . . I should send you to a concentration camp.”
On June 26, 2020, only a few hours before the defendant was located and arrested by the FBI, the defendant left the victim a voicemail message stating, “The police are not going to help you. The courts are not going to help you. . . . I will kill you.”
The FBI investigation identified several other people who had been similarly threatened and harassed by the defendant.
On April 27, 2021, the defendant pled guilty to one count of interference with the right to fair housing, a hate crime, and one count of sending threatening communications. He was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment, and additional punishment.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/new-york-man-sentenced-3-years-federal-prison-hate-crime-offenses
Iowa | August 20, 2021 | Race, National Origin
An Iowa woman was sentenced on two hate crimes charges for attempting to kill two children because of their race and national origin. The defendant was sentenced to two 25-year terms in federal prison running concurrently, with the sentences to overlap with the sentence imposed in her state court case.
On December 9, 2019, the defendant was driving her car on Creston Avenue in Des Moines, where the first child-victim was walking along the sidewalk with a family member who was also a child. Upon seeing the children and believing them to be of Middle Eastern or African descent, the defendant drove her vehicle over the curb towards the children, striking one of them, and then fleeing the scene.
About 30 minutes later, she was driving her Jeep near Indian Hills Junior High School in Clive, Iowa. The defendant saw a child that she believed was Mexican walking on the sidewalk. The defendant drove her vehicle over the curb and hit the child-victim, causing serious injury, including a concussion, bruises, and cuts. The defendant again fled the scene, but was caught later that day.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/iowa-woman-sentenced-304-months-prison-hate-crimes-involving-attempting-kill-two-children
Virginia | August 20, 2021 | Race
A Virginia man who burned a cross on the front yard of a Black family’s home in June, 2020, following a civil rights protest earlier that day, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. The defendant pled guilty in April, 2021, to criminal interference with federally protected housing rights because of the victim’s race.
On June 14, 2020, the Marion Police Department received a report of a burning cross in the front yard of a Black family, one of whom had organized a civil rights protest the day before.
Witnesses stated that the defendant admitted to the cross burning and used racial epithets when referring to the Black family.
Press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/marion-man-sentenced-burning-cross-front-yard-african-american-family-june-2020
Press Release (charged): https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/local-man-arrested-lying-about-marion-cross-burning-interfering-fair-housing-based-race
District of Columbia | August 12, 2021 | Race
A District of Columbia woman pled guilty this week to charges stemming from two assaults that took place in April and May of 2021, including one that was prosecuted as a hate crime.
The defendant pled guilty on August 9, 2021, to one count of bias-related assault and one count of simple assault. She was sentenced to a total of 180 days in jail, only serving half if she completes a year of probation.
The bias-related assault took place on April 6, 2021, when the defendant assaulted a U.S. Postal Service worker who was making deliveries. She shoved the worker, a Black female, while using racial slurs. As the worker tried to flee, the defendant pursued her and continued her assault by repeatedly shoving her and using racial slurs.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/district-woman-pleads-guilty-two-assaults-including-one-prosecuted-hate-crime
Missouri | August 11, 2021 | Race
A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri has charged a Missouri man with hate crime and firearm charges.
According to court documents, the defendant allegedly shot the victim, trying to kill him with a handgun because of his sexual orientation, causing significant non-fatal injuries.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. If guilty, the defendant faces up to life in prison on the hate crime charge and at least 10 years in prison on the firearm charge.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/missouri-man-indicted-federal-hate-crime-and-firearm-charges
Kentucky | June 24, 2021 | Race, Color
A Kentucky man was sentenced to life in prison without parole for two racially motivated murders and his attempted murder of a third person.
On Oct. 24, 2018, the defendant followed a Black man who was grocery shopping with his grandson, before shooting him several times and killing him. He then walked out of the store and into the parking lot, where he shot and killed a Black woman, and exchanged fire with a Black man who was in lawful possession of a handgun. As he left the third victim, he encountered a legally armed white man, who he said he would not shoot because “whites don’t shoot whites.”
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kroger-shooter-sentenced-life-prison-hate-crime-murders
Indiana | June 21, 2021 | Race, Color
An Indiana man was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to making racially motivated threats to intimidate and interfere with his neighbor, who is Black, in violation of the Fair Housing Act, and for unlawfully possessing firearms.
After learning about the neighbor’s plans to remove a tree from the neighbor’s property, the defendant took several steps to threaten, intimidate, and interfere with his neighbor and the construction. This included placing and burning a cross on the fence line facing his neighbor’s property; displaying a swastika facing his neighbor’s property; displaying a large sign containing a variety of anti-Black racial slurs and a machete next to the swastika; loudly playing the song “Dixie” on repeat; and throwing eggs at his neighbor’s house.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indiana-man-sentenced-46-months-prison-making-racially-motivated-threats-toward-black
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indiana-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-making-racially-charged-motivated-threats-toward-Black
District of Columbia | June 9, 2021 | Race, Color
A District of Columbia woman was sentenced to prison for threatening to kill someone because they were a member of the Asian community.
In April, the defendant approached the victim outside a neighborhood store while armed with a knife. She then threatened to kill the victim, saying, “I will kill you; you have coronavirus; go back to China.”
The judge sentenced the defendant to the maximum penalty of 270 days, but suspended all but 90 days of incarceration. After her term in prison, she will be placed on probation for 18 months.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/district-woman-sentenced-prison-hate-crime-targeting-member-asian-community
Alaska | May 27, 2021 | Religion
An Alaska defendant pled guilty to making threats to a synagogue and attempting to obstruct the free exercise of religious beliefs.
On November 1, 2019, the defendant called a Los Angeles area synagogue and left a voice message stating that they were going to kill the synagogue’s congregants. In their message, the defendant repeatedly used slurs referring to people of Jewish faith. The defendant admitted to committing this act with the intent to obstruct the synagogue’s congregants from enjoying the free exercise of their religious beliefs.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on August 23, 2021.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/alaska-defendant-pleads-guilty-threatening-los-angeles-synagogue
New York | May 22, 2021 | Religion
A New York man was arrested and charged with setting fire to a yeshiva (a Jewish school) and synagogue on May 19, 2021.
He was captured on surveillance video piling and igniting garbage bags next to a Brooklyn building that housed a yeshiva and a synagogue. Hours later, he was captured on surveillance video again, this time repeatedly punching a man wearing traditional Hasidic garb. There was no interaction between the defendant and the victim prior to the assault.
The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/brooklyn-man-arrested-arson-yeshiva-and-synagogue
Tennessee | May 17, 2021 | Religion, National Origin
A Tennessee man pled guilty to a federal hate crime offense for assaulting two girls and their father.
On October 24, 2017, he yelled “Allahu Akbar!” and “Go back to your country!” at two teenage girls wearing hijabs. He later attacked and injured the girls’ father by swinging a knife and punching at him. When the girls’ mother arrived on the scene with her young child in her car, he chased after them with his knife still drawn. After being taken into custody, the defendant made derogatory comments about the family, pledged to kill them when the police released him, and admitted that he carried out this assault because of the actual and perceived religion and national origin of the victims.
He will be sentenced on October 7, 2021.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/tennessee-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime
California | April 27, 2021 | Race, National Origin
Two Los Angeles-area men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy and hate crimes offenses for attacking five victims of a family-owned Turkish restaurant and threatening to kill them. On the day of the attack, one of the defendants sent a text message saying that he planned to go “hunting for [T]urks.” The two men allegedly attacked the restaurant while shouting anti-Turkish slurs, hurling chairs at victims, and threatening to kill them. Multiple victims were injured during the attack and there was over $20,000 worth of damage done to the restaurant.
If found guilty, each of the men face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the hate crime charges and five years in prison for the conspiracy charge.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-california-men-indicted-hate-crimes-case-alleging-they-attacked-family-owned-restaurant
Iowa | April 22, 2021 | Race, National Origin
An Iowa woman pled guilty to hate crime charges for attempting to kill two children because of their race and national origin.
While driving, the defendant spotted children walking on the sidewalk and upon seeing them and believing that they were of Middle Eastern or African descent, she drove her vehicle over the curb toward both children, striking one of them. She then drove away from the scene. Approximately 30 minutes after the initial assault, the woman drove her vehicle onto another sidewalk striking a child that she believed was Mexican.
She will face a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the charged offenses.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/iowa-woman-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-charges-attempting-kill-two-children-because-their-race
Michigan | March 30, 2021 | Race
A Michigan man pled guilty to willfully causing bodily injury to a Black teenager because of the teenager’s race. He confronted a group of Black teenagers, including the victim, in a park state park and repeatedly used racial slurs and declared that the teenagers had no right to use the public beach where the incident occurred. He then struck the victim with a bike lock, knocking out several of the victim’s teeth, lacerating his face, and fracturing his jaw.
The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/michigan-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-attacking-black-teenager
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/michigan-man-indicted-hate-crimes-after-attacking-african-american-teenagers
California | March 26, 2021 | Religion, Sexual Orientation
A California woman has been sentenced to 15 months and 13 days for intentionally obstructing individuals’ free exercise of religion by threatening to bomb the Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., the oldest Catholic school for girls in the country.
The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.In May of 2019, the school announced that it would begin publishing same-sex wedding announcements in its alumni magazine. In response to the school’s decision, the defendant made multiple calls to the school, threatening to bomb the church, blow up the school, and kill school officials and students.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-woman-sentenced-15-months-threatening-bomb-catholic-prep-school
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-woman-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-threatening-bomb-catholic-prep-school
Colorado | February 26, 2021 | Religion
A Colorado man, who self-identifies as a neo-Nazi and white supremacist, was sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for plotting to blow up the Temple Emanuel Synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado.
In conversations with undercover FBI agents, the defendant repeatedly expressed his hatred of Jewish people and said that he wanted the bombing of the synagogue to send a message to Jewish people that they must leave his town “otherwise people will die.” The defendant’s conduct meets the federal definition of domestic terrorism.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/southern-colorado-man-sentenced-more-19-years-plotting-blow-synagogue
Michigan | February 11, 2021 | Race, Color
A Michigan man has been charged for causing bodily injury to two Black teenagers through the use of a dangerous weapon.
According to the charges, he confronted a group of Black teenagers at a state park, repeatedly using racial slurs and saying that Black people had no right to use the public beach. He then struck one of the teens in the face with a bike lock, fracturing the victim’s jaw and knocking out several of his teeth, before trying to strike another teen with the lock.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years for each count.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/michigan-man-indicted-hate-crimes-after-attacking-african-american-teenagers
Vermont | November 3, 2020 | Race, National Origin
A Vermont man was sentenced to time served, of nearly a year, and three years of supervised release for pleading guilty to a federal hate crime.
On July 29, 2019, the defendant intimidated and harassed his neighbors, o a Hispanic family including two children, because of their race and national origin. He threatened to burn down the family’s home while they were inside and threatened to set fire to a member of the family. The defendant also shouted racial and ethnic slurs at the family, yelled at them to “go back to Mexico,” and yelled that “you Mexicans don’t belong on this street.” He warned the family that he would do “whatever it takes to get you off this street,” and exposed his genitals and buttocks in front of the family, including one of the children. Finally, he smashed the family’s mailbox and smashed glass on their lawn.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-vt/pr/man-sentenced-federal-hate-crime
New York | June 30, 2020 | Religion
A New York Man has been charged by federal criminal complaint with making anti-Semitic death threats to a resident of Stratford, Connecticut.
On December 23, 2019, the first day of Hanukkah, the man began sending the victim, who is Jewish, threatening text messages. In several messages, he threatened to murder or seriously injure the victim. He also threatened to blow up the victim’s house and car. Some of the threatening text messages contained anti-Semitic references to the Holocaust.
The charges, which include a hate crime, carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/new-york-man-arrested-hate-crime
Florida/Virginia | April 30, 2020 | Race, Color
A Florida man pled guilty to threatening an African-American Charlottesville City Council candidate because of his race and because he was running for office, and to threatening, harassing, and stalking another victim using social media.
The defendant admitted using fake names on social media to promote white supremacy and to express support for racially-motivated violence. The defendant also admitted to using social media to threaten violence against an African-American resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, because of his race and because he was running for City Council.
The defendant will be sentenced on July 23, 2020, and faces up to one year in prison for making online threats and up to five years in prison for using the internet to threaten, stalk, and harass.
Massachusetts | April 15, 2020 | Religion
An East Longmeadow man was arrested and charged in connection with attempted arson at a Longmeadow assisted living residential facility.
According to the criminal complaint, on April 2, 2020, police discovered a homemade bomb at the entrance of Ruth’s House, a Jewish-sponsored assisted living residential facility for seniors of all faiths,. Police linked D.N.A. found on the device to the defendant. The device was discovered after law enforcement identified credible online threats against Ruth’s House on social media posts tied to a white supremacist organization.
The defendant faces two separate charges, each with sentences of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release following imprisonment, and fines of $250,000.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/east-longmeadow-man-charged-attempted-arson-longmeadow-assisted-living-residential
Pennsylvania | March 30, 2020 | Race, Color, Religion, National Origin
A Leighton man has been charged with transmitting threats across state lines to cause bodily injury to another person.
The defendant allegedly used fake names online to post hundreds of anti-Semitic, anti-black, and anti-Muslim messages, images, and videos. Several of these posts, like the one charged in the complaint, included threats to various religious and racial groups. Other posts expressed a desire to commit genocide and “hate crimes,” and called for or depicted images of the killing of Jewish people, black people, and Muslim people”. On March 13, 2019, the defendant allegedly posted a digitally-created image of his arm and hand aiming an AR-15 rifle at a congregation of praying Jewish men, gathered in what appears to be a synagogue.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 5 years of imprisonment for each violation, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/lehighton-man-charged-internet-threats
Maine | March 10, 2020 | Race, National Origin
Maurice Diggins was convicted of conspiring to—and committing—hate crimes against black men in Maine. The government proved that Diggins conspired with his nephew, Dusty Leo, to brutally assault two men because they were black. Leo had already pleaded guilty.
In the first incident, Diggins attacked a black Sudanese man without provocation. During the same incident, Diggins and Leo assaulted another black man who was standing nearby. Witnesses heard Diggins and Leo using racial epithets during these incidents.
In the second incident, which occurred about an hour later and approximately 20 miles away, Diggins and Leo drove into a parking lot of a convenience store, where Diggins got out of the truck and approached a black man who was walking toward the store’s entrance. Diggins directed a racial slur at the man and distracted him while Leo got out of the truck and sucker-punched the man in the jaw, knocking him to the ground.
In both incidents, Diggins and Leo’s unprovoked attacks broke the victims’ jaws requiring extensive surgery.
Diggins and Leo have not been sentenced yet. Diggins faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each hate crimes charge, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge. Leo faces the same penalties for the conspiracy charge and the hate crimes charge.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/biddeford-maine-man-convicted-hate-crime-assaults
Louisiana | February 10, 2020 | Religion
Holden Matthews has pled guilty to intentionally setting fire to three Baptist churches in the area of Opelousas because of the religious character of those buildings. Matthews set the fires over ten days in March and April of 2019, and each of the church buildings was destroyed.
Matthews admitted that he intentionally set fire to the three Baptist churches with predominately African-American congregations.
Matthews further admitted that he wanted to raise his profile as a “Black Metal” musician by copying similar crimes committed in Norway in the 1990s. After setting the third fire, he posted photographs and videos on Facebook showing the first two churches burning. He admitted that he took these photographs and videos in real-time on his cell phone as he watched the churches burn, and that he posted them to Facebook to promote himself in the Black Metal community.
Matthews will be sentenced on May 22, 2020. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 70 years in prison.
Maryland | January 16, 2020 | Religion
A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging a Maryland man for threatening to attack a Baltimore-area synagogue on multiple occasions. The superseding indictment replaces the previous indictment, which only charged him with making threats in interstate communications.
In addition to the interstate communications charge, the suspect is charged with intentionally attempting to obstruct persons in the enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs through threats of force.
According to the superseding indictment, he made numerous telephone calls to an employee of a synagogue in Owings Mills, Maryland, and threatened to kill members of the synagogue’s congregations with firearms, explosives, and by burning the synagogue down.
If convicted, the maximum sentence is 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to 250,000.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/superseding-indictment-charges-man-making-threats-against-maryland-synagogue
New York | January 9, 2020 | Religion
A federal grand jury has indicted a New York man with federal hate crimes including willfully causing bodily injury to five victims because of the victims’ religion and for obstructing the free exercise of religion by attempting to kill during Hanukkah observances at a rabbi’s home in Monsey, New York.
The indictment alleges that on December 28, 2019, the subject was armed with an 18-inch machete and entered a rabbi’s home—adjacent to the rabbi’s synagogue—where dozens had gathered for Hanukkah. There he slashed and stabbed several of the assembled congregants. At least five victims were hospitalized with severe injuries. It is alleged that he targeted and attacked the congregants because of their religion.
Following the attack, he was stopped by members of the New York City Police Department. In the vehicle they saw a machete that appeared to have traces of dried blood on it. After securing warrants, law enforcement searched the subject’s residence and cellphone. The residence contained handwritten journals with several pages of anti-Semitic references, including references to “Adolf Hitler” and “Nazi Culture.” The cellphone contained internet searches for terms such as “Zionist Temples in Staten Island and New Jersey,” “why did Hitler hate the Jews,” and “prominent companies founded by Jews in America.” Also found was a webpage visit on the day of the attack to an article titled, “New York Increases Police Presence in Jewish Neighborhoods After Anti-Semitic Attacks. Here’s What to Know.”
Each count carries a maximum prison term of life.
Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/orange-county-man-charged-additional-federal-hate-crimes-december-28-2019-machete-attack
Texas | December 13, 2019 | Sexual orientation
Two men have pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime and other charges in connection with their involvement in a scheme to single out men because of their sexual orientation. The defendants conspired with a third accomplice, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and kidnapping charges in connection with the case in March of 2019.
The defendants used Grindr, a social media platform, to lure gay men to areas around Dallas for robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and violent hate crimes. The co-conspirators held the victims at gunpoint against their will, forced a victim to withdraw money from an ATM, sexually assaulted at least one of the victims, and wiped human feces on and urinated on another victim.
Defendant Atkinson will be sentenced in February of 2020. Sentencing for defendant Ceniceros-Deleon is set for April 1, 2020, and the court has not scheduled a sentencing hearing for defendant Henry.
Henry and Ceniceros-Deleon Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-dallas-men-plead-guilty-hate-crimes-after-using-dating-app-target-gay-men-violent-crimes
Atkinson Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dallas-man-pleads-guilty-kidnapping-and-conspiracy-charges-after-targeting-gay-men-violent
Mississippi | November 7, 2019 | Race, Color
Graham Williamson and Louie Revette, of Seminary, Mississippi, were sentenced for a racially motivated crossburning in a predominantly African-American residential area. Williamson was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison. Revette was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for recruiting Williamson, planning, and executing the crossburning.
In October 2017, the two men built a cross that they set up and lit on fire near the homes of African-American residents in the Keys Hill area of Seminary, Mississippi. Both men admitted to knowing that burning crosses have historically been used to threaten, frighten, and intimidate African-Americans, and that they wanted to make the community members in the neighborhood fearful. The crossburning was mostly directed at a young African-American victim and placed near the victim’s home.
Williamson Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/pr/mississippi-man-sentenced-36-months-crossburning
Revette Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/mississippi-man-sentenced-11-years-crossburning
Colorado | November 4, 2019 | Religion
A Colorado man was charged with a federal hate crime for plotting to blow up the Temple Emanuel Synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado.
According to the affidavit, the defendant self-identifies as a skinhead and a white supremacist. After visiting Temple Emanuel and observing Jewish congregants, the subject allegedly told undercover FBI agents that he wanted to do something that would tell Jewish people in the community that they are not welcome in Pueblo, and they should leave or they will die. He repeatedly expressed his hatred of Jewish people and support for a racial holy war. He suggested using explosive devices to destroy the Synagogue to “get that place off the map.” He allegedly met with undercover FBI agents posing as fellow white supremacists to develop an attack plan and coordinate how to get explosives.
On November 1, 2019, Holzer allegedly met with undercover agents who provided him with inactive explosive devices created by the FBI. He planned to set off the explosives early Saturday, November 2.
The defendant is currently in federal custody and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Criminal Complaint Charge: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/southern-colorado-man-charged-federal-hate-crime-plotting-blow-synagogue
Louisiana | October 31, 2019 | Disability
Terry Knope and Raylaine Knope have been sentenced to 336 months in federal prison for charges of conspiring to obtain forced labor and a Hate Crime involving a woman with cognitive disabilities. Bridget Knope was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for conspiring with family members to receive forced labor. Jody Lambert was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison in June 2019 for conspiring with family members to violate the federal housing rights of a woman with disabilities.
The family conspired to obtain unpaid household labor from a woman with a disability through force, threats of force, physical restraint, as well as physical, verbal, and psychological abuse. The victim was locked in a backyard cage and forced to perform housework in exchange for food and water. The family also routinely stole the victim’s federal disability benefits.
Terry Knope Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/louisiana-man-sentenced-violating-civil-rights-woman-disabilities
Raylaine Knope and Bridget Lambert Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/louisiana-mother-and-daughter-sentenced-violating-civil-rights-woman-disabilities
Jody Lambert Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/louisiana-man-sentenced-conspiring-violate-federal-housing-rights-woman-disabilities
Virginia | August 15, 2019 | Religion, National Origin
William Syring of Arlington, Virginia, has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for threatening employees of the Arab American Institute (AAI) because of their race and national origin. Syring also targeted AAI employees because of their efforts to encourage Arab Americans to participate in political and civic life in the United States.
Syring sent over 700 emails to AAI employees from 2012 to 2017, including five death threats. Similarly, in 2008, Syring admitted to sending threatening emails to AAI employees and used language nearly identical to that in his 2017 emails. For over a decade, AAI employees lived in fear that he would follow through with his threats. The threatening messages took a toll on them, their families, and their loved ones.
On May 9, 2019, Syring was convicted on all 14 counts in the indictment, including seven hate crime charges and seven interstate threats charges.
Conviction: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/virginia-man-convicted-threatening-employees-arab-american-institute
Virginia | July 19, 2019 | Race, Color
Benjamin Daley, Michael Miselis, and Thomas Gillen, members of the white-supremacist group formerly known as the Rise Above Movement (RAM), were sentenced in court for violence they committed at political rallies as part of their conspiracy to riot.
From March 2017 to August 2017, the three men traveled with other RAM members to multiple political rallies and organized demonstrations in Virginia and California where they engaged in planned acts of violence. They attended these rallies intending to provoke physical conflict with counter-protestors, which they believed would justify their use of force and protect them from prosecution. The defendants admitted that their acts of violence during the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally were not in self-defense.
Daley was sentenced to 37 months in prison, Gillen was sentenced to 33 months in prison, and Miselis was sentenced to 27 months in prison. A fourth defendant, Cole Evan White, will be sentenced at a later date. All four defendants previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to riot.
Virginia | June 28, 2019 | Race, color, national origin, religion
James Alex Fields, Jr., who participated in a white nationalist rally held in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to hate crimes charges that resulted in the death of a victim, caused bodily injury, and involved an attempt to kill other people after he drove into a group of counter-protestors.
According to facts signed by Fields, he attended the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where multiple groups and individuals chanted and expressed white supremacist and anti-Semitic views. After law enforcement told rally participants to leave, he admitted that he drove into downtown Charlottesville where a racially and ethnically diverse crowd had gathered. Fields proceeded to drive into a crowd of counter-protestors because of their actual and perceived race, color, national origin, and religion. He also admitted that prior to the rally he used social media to express and promote white supremacist views; the social and racial policies of Nazi-era Germany; and violence against groups that he perceived to be non-white.
Oregon | May 23, 2019 | Religion
Benjamin Hernandez, of Eugene, Oregon, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release for committing a hate crime targeting St. Mary Catholic Church in Eugene in September 2018 and illegally possessing ammunition.
Hernandez was escorted from St. Mary Church property on September 9, 2018, following an angry outburst during communion services. Over the following weeks, Hernandez was spotted around the property by security cameras and employees spraying door handles with pepper spray, making threatening gestures towards members of the congregation, and leaving a threatening note coupled with ammunition. As a result, staff and churchgoers were physically injured, frightened, and concerned about their safety.
Hernandez was arrested on September 21, 2018, and pleaded guilty on February 12, 2019, to obstruction or attempted obstruction of persons in the free exercise of their religious beliefs and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/oregon-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-threatening-shooting-spree-eugene-church
Ohio | January 29, 2019 | Religion
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Ohio charged an Ohio man with three federal charges in connection with his plan to attack a synagogue in the Toledo area.
The three-count indictment charges the defendant with attempting to provide material support to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), attempting to commit a hate crime, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to court documents, the defendant drew law enforcement’s attention in 2018 with social media posts of weapons and messages supportive of ISIS, as well as posting a photograph originally distributed by ISIS. That online activity led to multiple interactions between him and undercover FBI agents, during which the defendant stated his support for violent attacks and operations. For example, he communicated to the undercover agent his admiration for the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting that occurred in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in October 2018. Additionally, the defendant discussed conducting a mass shooting at a synagogue with the undercover agent. He identified two synagogues as potential targets, discussed the types of weapons he believed would be able to inflict mass casualties, and stated he wanted to kill a rabbi. He wrote the name and address of the synagogue he selected and showed the undercover agent photos of the inside. He was arrested after he accepted two semi-automatic rifles the undercover agent told him he had purchased for the attack. The weapons were rendered inoperable by law enforcement officers, so they posed no danger to the public.
Indictment: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-indicted-attempting-provide-material-support-isis-and-attempting-commit-violent-hate
Kansas | January 25, 2019 | Religion, national origin
On January 25, 2019, Curtis Allen, Gavin Wright, and Patrick Stein were sentenced to 25, 26, and 30 years, respectively, for conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and to violate the housing rights of their intended victims. Both conspiracies stemmed from the defendants’ plot to blow up an apartment complex in an effort to kill the Somali Muslim immigrants who lived and worshipped there. Prior to the conviction, the FBI conducted an eight-month-long investigation during which they uncovered recordings of the defendants discussing their plan to attack the apartment complex. One undercover FBI agent posed as a black-market arms dealer and met with one of the defendants, who attempted to purchase a bomb from the undercover agent.
Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/three-southwest-kansas-men-sentenced-prison-plotting-bomb-somali-immigrants-garden-city