Jumaane Williams convicted of blocking ambulance in protest

Brooklyn councilmember, Lt. Gov. candidate was sentenced to time served

August 7, 2018 Associated Press

New York City councilmember Jumaane Williams. AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

Share this:

New York City councilman Jumaane Williams has been sentenced to time served after he was convicted of blocking an ambulance during a protest over the detention of a prominent immigration rights activist in January.

A jury on Monday found Williams guilty of obstructing emergency services. He was acquitted of disorderly conduct and the more serious charge of obstruction of government services.

The 41-year-old Democrat from Brooklyn was arrested outside a federal building over the detention of Ravi Ragbir (RAH’-vee RAHG’-beer), a citizen of Trinidad who has been fighting deportation after a fraud conviction.

Williams launched his campaign to unseat incumbent Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul a few days after his arrest.

They face off in the Democratic primary on Sept. 13.