Staten Island Man Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Conspiracy To Commit Antisemitic Hate Crimes

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SAADAH MASOUD was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to commit hate crimes in connection with MASOUD’s repeated physical attacks of Jewish victims in New York City between 2021 and 2022.  The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Saadah Masoud repeatedly attacked New Yorkers based on their religion and national origin.  The prosecution of this case and the sentence imposed today make clear that hate-fueled violence will not be tolerated in our community and that this Office will be unrelenting in our efforts to hold accountable those who perpetrate senseless crimes of hate.”    

According to the Indictment, other public filings, and statements made in court:

From at least in or about May 2021 through at least in or about April 2022, MASOUD and others conspired to commit hate crime acts in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere.  In furtherance of the conspiracy, MASOUD assaulted at least three victims based upon the victims’ actual and perceived religion and national origin.  Specifically, the defendant admitted to committing the following acts of violence that were motivated by the victims’ Jewish or Israeli identity or perceived identity:

• On or about April 20, 2022, in Manhattan, MASOUD assaulted a victim who was wearing an Israeli flag;
• On or about June 2, 2021, in Brooklyn, MASOUD and a co-conspirator assaulted a victim who was wearing clothing traditionally associated with the Jewish religion, including a yarmulke, while the victim was sitting outside the victim’s own home; and
• On or about May 20, 2021, in Manhattan, MASOUD assaulted a victim who was wearing a Star of David necklace.

In addition to his prison term, SAADAH MASOUD, 29, of Staten Island, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department’s Hate Crime Task Force and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.