Press Release
Suburban Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to one charge of violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
Jeffrey Allen Burgess, age 55, of Pittsburgh, PA, pleaded guilty to one-count before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
According to information presented to the Court, on or about November 22, 2016, Burgess violated the Hate Crimes Prevention Act by willfully causing bodily injury to A.M. because of A.M.’s actual and perceived race, color, and national origin.
Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for March 30, 2018 at 4:45 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Cindy K. Chung and Rachael L. Dizard and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Tona Boyd are prosecuting this case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bethel Park Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Burgess.
Updated December 6, 2017
Topic
Hate Crimes
Component