Press Release
Saugerties Woman Sentenced to 72 Months' Imprisonment for Attempted Arson of NYPD Van Occupied by Four Police Officers
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York
Defendant Told Co-Conspirator of Her Intention to “Go Down to the City to Cause Some Hell” During Protests Following the Murder of George Floyd
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Samantha Shader was sentenced by United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry to 72 months’ imprisonment for using an improvised incendiary device, commonly known as a “Molotov cocktail,” in an attempt to set fire to a New York City Police Department (NYPD) van occupied by four police officers in Brooklyn on the night of May 29, 2020. Shader pleaded guilty to the charge in April 2022.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, NYPD, announced the sentence.
“The constitutionally protected right to peaceful protest is a core democratic value. Over the course of this nation’s history, protests have led to significant positive changes. But, throwing a potentially lethal device at an NYPD van occupied by four officers during a protest was an unacceptable and dangerous act, which put the officers and others present at risk,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office is committed to holding accountable those who, like this defendant, commit crimes that endanger the community and the lives of the dedicated officers of the NYPD.”
“Today, Ms. Shader learned the consequences for choosing to engage in violent criminal actions. Malicious actors who wish to bring mayhem to our community - and those who dutifully serve to protect it - will be held accountable for their behavior by the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
“A violent criminal who crossed a line that is critical to a lawful, civil society has been appropriately held to account,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that no one may ever commit a despicable act of vandalism, especially one that endangers the lives of police officers – whose mission is to ensure people’s right to demonstrate peacefully. I commend the NYPD officers who arrested her for this criminal act, and I thank the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District for taking the safety of all New Yorkers – including the police who serve them – seriously.”
On May 29, 2020, Shader traveled from her residence in Saugerties, New York to Brooklyn to participate in a march planned to protest the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. Before traveling to Brooklyn, Shader invited co-conspirator Timothy Amerman to “go down to the City to cause some hell,” and after he declined, procured from him numerous glass bottles that Amerman believed Shader would use as projectiles against police and counter-protesters.
On the night of May 29, 2020, amid a large protest march near the Brooklyn Museum, a witness used his phone to record a video of Shader lighting the wick of a Molotov cocktail and throwing it at a marked NYPD van occupied by four police officers who were assigned to crowd control during the protests. As she threw the Molotov cocktail, Shader called out to the protesters around the van to “GET OUT THE MOTHERF---ING WAY!” The Molotov cocktail struck the NYPD van, shattering two of its windows, but did not break and ignite. The police officers exited their vehicle and apprehended Shader, who resisted arrest by biting one of the police officers on the leg.
Following Shader’s arrest, the FBI identified Saugerties, New York resident Amerman as the man who had provided glass bottles to Shader and arrested him on July 3, 2020. Amerman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit civil disorder on March 26, 2021, and is awaiting sentencing. He faces a maximum term of 60 months’ imprisonment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian C. Richardson and Jonathan Algor are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
SAMANTHA SHADER
Age: 29
Saugerties, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-202 (DLI)
TIMOTHY AMERMAN
Age: 31
Saugerties, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-126 (DLI)
Contact
John Marzulli
Danielle Blustein Hass
United States Attorney’s Office
(718) 254-6323
Updated November 15, 2022
Topic
Violent Crime
Component