California

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.

Charges: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/socal-man-charged-hate-crime-physical-attack-asian-american-woman-while-hurling-racial

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.

Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/california-woman-sentenced-prison-making-anti-semitic-phone-threats-former-executive

Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/california-woman-pleads-guilty-leaving-threatening-anti-semitic-message

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.

Charges: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-arrested-making-violent-threats-against-north-carolinians

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

Charges: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/man-who-allegedly-shot-two-jewish-victims-leaving-los-angeles-synagogues-indicted

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.

Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/diamond-bar-man-sentenced-one-year-federal-prison-driving-his-car-through

Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/diamond-bar-man-pleads-guilty-civil-rights-charge-driving-his-car-crowd-demonstrators

Indictment: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/diamond-bar-man-arrested-indictment-charging-him-using-his-car-intimidate-demonstrators

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.

Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/reseda-man-who-expressed-anti-semitic-hate-sentenced-federal-prison-illegally

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.

Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-marine-sentenced-molotov-cocktail-attack-against-planned-parenthood-clinic-orange

Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-us-marine-pleads-guilty-firebombing-planned-parenthood-clinic-orange-county-and

Co-Defendant’s Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/irvine-man-pleads-guilty-firebombing-planned-parenthood-clinic-and-plotting-attack

Charges: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-grand-jury-charges-three-molotov-cocktail-attack-last-year-planned-parenthood-clinic

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.

Charges: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-california-rideshare-driver-charged-federal-hate-crime-antisemitic-attack-passenger

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

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

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

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.

Indictment:https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-indicted-federal-hate-crimes-related-poway-synagogue-shooting-and-arson

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

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

A federal jury convicted a California man of willfully attempting to cause bodily injury by using a dangerous weapon because of a person’s actual or perceived race or color.

The man is guilty of confronting and attacking a Black man with a nine-inch knife, swiping the man multiple times on his head, chest, and stomach, while yelling racial slurs. At the time of the attack, the defendant was on probation in connection to another racially-motivated attack he committed in 2018.

The defendant faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

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

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

A California woman pleaded guilty to committing a religious-bias hate crime by threatening to bomb the Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C.

In May 2019, after school officials announced that Visitation Prep, the oldest Catholic school for girls in the country, would begin publishing same-sex wedding announcements in its alumni magazine, they began receiving threats. On May 15, the defendant left a series of voice messages stating that she was going to burn and bomb campus buildings, and kill school officials and students.

The crime carries a maximum penalty of 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/california-woman-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-threatening-bomb-catholic-prep-school

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.

Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/three-members-california-based-white-supremacist-group-sentenced-riots-charges-related