New Jersey Man Who Posed As Nurse Charged With Kidnapping And Abusing Multiple Women

 

Herman Brightman Allegedly Posed as a Nurse on Hinge and Facebook before Kidnapping, Assaulting, Threatening, and Harassing at least Four Victims in New Jersey, Queens, Mount Vernon, and the Bronx

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today that a grand jury in Manhattan federal court returned an eight-count Indictment charging New Jersey resident HERMAN CALVIN BRIGHTMAN, a/k/a “Nazir Griffiths,” a/k/a “Nazir Luckett,” with kidnapping, interstate travel to commit domestic violence, interstate communication of a threat, cyberstalking, and interstate stalking.  BRIGHTMAN’s case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Cronan.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, for over a year, Herman Brightman preyed upon woman after woman using the internet to lure these women into meeting and dating him and posing as a nurse or nurse practitioner to gain their trust.  He then quickly became physically abusive towards them, going so far as to kidnap the women at knifepoint and threaten to kill them.  Today’s charges put a stop to this abusive and violent behavior.  We thank and commend the courageous women who came forward to report Brightman.” 

NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “The men and women of the NYPD condemn these deeply disturbing and heinous acts allegedly committed by a serial predator. Across jurisdictional boundaries, we and our law enforcement partners take all accusations of abuse seriously and remain dedicated to ensuring justice for the victims.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

From between in or about January 2022 to in or about September 2023, BRIGHTMAN used social media platforms such as Facebook and the dating application Hinge to meet, and occasionally date, several women under false pretenses.  Specifically, BRIGHTMAN, often used an alias and posed as a nurse or nurse practitioner working at New York City-area hospitals, even sending pictures and videos of himself wearing scrubs and lab coats, and creating false IDs for himself.  Some of those photos are included below:

Shortly after he began dating his victims, BRIGHTMAN began to act violently towards them, particularly if they attempted to end the relationship.  As set forth in the Indictment, between January 2022 and September 2023, BRIGHTMAN brutalized at least four such women.

In or about July 2022, BRIGHTMAN traveled from New Jersey to the Southern District of New York and forced at knifepoint a woman (“Victim-1”) who had recently decided to break up with him and her minor child (“Minor Victim-1”) to travel from the Southern District of New York to BRIGHTMAN’s residence in New Jersey.  Once they arrived at BRIGHTMAN’s residence, BRIGHTMAN threatened to kill Victim-1 if she “made any problems” and literally held onto Victim-1 for an entire evening to prevent her from escaping.  Victim-1 eventually did escape the next morning and was able to contact local police after she convinced BRIGHTMAN to let her leave his residence temporarily. 

In or about August 2023, BRIGHTMAN brutally attacked a Queens woman he had been dating (“Victim-2”) in her home and held her at knifepoint.  During the attack, BRIGHTMAN threatened to “gut” Victim-2 “like a fish.”  BRIGHTMAN also bound Victim-2’s hands and attempted to tape Victim-2’s mouth.  Approximately one week after this incident, Victim-2 ended her relationship with BRIGHTMAN.  In the 24 hours that followed, BRIGHTMAN called Victim-2 over 20 times, including from private blocked numbers.  On one particular phone call, BRIGHTMAN repeatedly threatened Victim-2.

In or about early September 2023, BRIGHTMAN traveled from New Jersey to the Bronx, New York, and used his phone to lure a third woman he was dating (“Victim-3”) to his car.  While in BRIGHTMAN’s car, BRIGHTMAN forced Victim-3 to call Victim-2.  BRIGHTMAN then punched Victim-3, leaving a bruise on her arm.  When Victim-3 attempted to escape, BRIGHTMAN chased after her and put her in a choke hold.  Victim-3 escaped into her building and called the police.

A few days later, BRIGHTMAN returned to the Bronx to confront Victim-3 at her job.  During the confrontation, BRIGHTMAN repeatedly asked Victim-3 if she had contacted the police.  BRIGHTMAN then followed Victim-3 home where BRIGHTMAN assaulted her again, pushing Victim-3 to the ground and throwing a traffic cone at her.

In or about late September 2023, BRIGHTMAN traveled to the Bronx and convinced a fourth woman (“Victim-4”), who had previously ended their relationship, to allow him into her home.  Inside Victim-4’s home, BRIGHTMAN assaulted and strangled Victim-4, leaving her with bruising on her neck.  BRIGHTMAN also repeatedly threatened to kill Victim-4 and attempted to rape her.  Victim-4 was ultimately able to escape with the help of a friend.

If you have been victimized by HERMAN CALVIN BRIGHTMAN, a/k/a “Nazir Griffiths,” a/k/a “Nazir Luckett,” or have any additional information about his alleged illegal behavior, please contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York at 1-866-874-8900 and reference this case. 

BRIGHTMAN, 30, of West New York, New Jersey, is charged with three counts of kidnapping, which each carry a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of threatening physical harm by interstate communication, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of cyberstalking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; two counts of travel in interstate commerce to commit a crime of violence, which each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of travel in interstate commerce to stalk; which carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD, Task Force Officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas office for their work on the investigation.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the Queens District Attorney’s Office, and the Ocean County District Attorney’s Office in New Jersey for their assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Moroney and Ni Qian are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.