Man Sentenced to 11 Years for hate-crimes attack on Jewish man in East Flatbush.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez on Monday announced that a man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for the strangulation and assault as hate crimes for an unprovoked attack against a Jewish man, whom he cursed and strangled as the victim was walking home from a synagogue.
Gonzalez identified the defendant as James Vincent, 44. He was sentenced Monday by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo to 11 years in prison. The defendant was convicted of first-degree attempted strangulation as a hate crime, second-degree strangulation as a hate crime, attempted second-degree assault as a hate crime, third-degree assault as a hate crime, and fourth-degree criminal mischief on Oct. 28, 2021 after a jury trial.
According to the evidence, on April 21, 2018, at approximately 1 p.m., the victim, a 52-year-old Jewish man, was walking home from his synagogue after Sabbath prayers. He walked past the defendant in the vicinity of Rutland Road and East 46th Street in East Flatbush, when the defendant yelled, “You #$%& Jew, you Jews took my house and mortgage.” The victim continued walking.
The defendant then ran up to the victim from behind, placed his hands on his neck and applied pressure, according to the evidence. He then punched the victim in the head and body, put his arms around the victim’s head and applied pressure.
Two bystanders intervened and the defendant continued to yell epithets regarding the victim’s religion as the victim picked up his yarmulke. The defendant then fled.
The victim suffered various injuries to the head and body.
Several surveillance videos from the area helped to identify the defendant, and the investigation revealed that he purchased ice cream in a nearby store using a credit card bearing his name. He was arrested on April 27, 2018.
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