‘Vile acts of antisemitic hatred endanger the safety of individuals and entire communities, and allowing such crimes to go unchecked endangers the foundation of our democracy itself,’ US Attorney General Merrick Garland.
A man who terrorized Los Angeles’ Jewish community has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, Jaime Tran, 30, pleaded guilty on Monday to four federal charges including hate crimes with intent to kill and firearms offenses .
As a member of the “Goyim Defense League” online hate group, he drove to the predominantly Jewish area Pico-Robertson on two and fired at two Jewish men as they were leaving synagogue.
Both victims thankfully survived but suffered severe gunshot wounds. He also has a history of making threatening statements, including telling a former classmate, “Someone is going to kill you, Jew” and describing himself as a “ticking time bomb,”
“After two years of spewing antisemitic vitriol, the defendant planned and carried out a two-day attack attempting to murder Jews leaving synagogue in Los Angeles,” said US Attorney General Merrick Garland following the verdict.
“Vile acts of antisemitic hatred endanger the safety of individuals and entire communities, and allowing such crimes to go unchecked endangers the foundation of our democracy itself.”
“While this sentencing cannot fully restore the sense of safety stolen from the two victims and the Jewish community, it is a decisive step towards justice and a clear message that such acts of hate and violence will not be tolerated,” he added.