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Man Convicted of Hate Crimes After Attacking Jewish Man in Flatbush: Brooklyn DA

The Jewish man was attacked as he walked home from his synagogue in East Flatbush in 2018
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Photo: Joi Ito/Wikimedia

A 40-year-old man has been convicted of strangulation and assault as hate crimes for the unprovoked attack against a Jewish man, whom he cursed and strangled as the victim was walking home from a synagogue, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced.

James Vincent was convicted on Thursday of the April 2018 crime, following a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo.

Gonzalez said that according to the evidence the victim, a 52-year-old Jewish man, was walking home from his synagogue after Sabbath prayers when he walked past Vincent near Rutland Road and East 46th Street in East Flatbush. Vincent then allegedly yelled, “You #$%& Jew, you Jews took my house and mortgage.” The victim continued walking.

Vincent then ran up to the victim from behind, placed his hands on his neck and applied pressure, then punched the victim in the head and body, put his arms around the victim’s head and applied more pressure, according to the Gonzalez.

Two bystanders intervened and Vincent continued to yell epithets regarding the victim’s religion as the victim picked up his yarmulke and kippah, before fleeing, the district attorney said.

The victim suffered various injuries to the head and body. 

Several surveillance videos from the area helped to identify Vincent and the investigation revealed that he purchased ice cream in a nearby store using a card bearing his name. He was arrested on April 27, 2018.

Vincent faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 13. 




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