New Jersey Man Who Stalked And Assaulted Multiple Women Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison

 

Herman Calvin Brightman Posed As a Nurse Online Where He Met Several Women Before Stalking and Assaulting Them

Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that HERMAN CALVIN BRIGHTMAN, a/k/a “Nazir Griffiths,” a/k/a “Nazir Luckett,” was sentenced to 10 years in prison for repeatedly stalking and assaulting several women he met online while posing as a nurse.  BRIGHTMAN previously pled guilty to traveling in interstate commerce to commit a crime of violence and sending interstate threats.  U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan imposed today’s sentence. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Herman Brightman preyed on women he met through online dating websites. By posing as a nurse, Brightman earned the trust of his victims, and then stalked, assaulted, and threatened them. With this lengthy prison sentence, Brightman can no longer inflict pain or fear in his victims. I commend the brave women who spoke out against Brightman to ensure that he was held accountable for his crimes.” 

As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:

From at least January 2022 through September 2023, BRIGHTMAN used social media platforms such as Facebook and the dating application Hinge to meet, and occasionally date, women under false pretenses. Specifically, BRIGHTMAN often used an alias, created false identities for himself, and posed as a nurse or nurse practitioner working at New York City-area hospitals.  To convince women of his lies, BRIGHTMAN sent pictures and videos of himself wearing scrubs and lab coats, some examples of which are included below:

Shortly after he began dating his victims, BRIGHTMAN began to act violently towards them, especially when they attempted to end the relationship.  Court filings detailed how BRIGHTMAN brutalized at least four such women.

In July 2022, BRIGHTMAN traveled from New Jersey to the Bronx, where he brandished a knife at a woman (“Victim-1”) and her minor child, after Victim-1 decided to break up with him.  BRIGHTMAN then forced Victim-1 and her child to travel from Westchester County to BRIGHTMAN’s home in New Jersey.  Upon arriving at BRIGHTMAN’s residence, BRIGHTMAN threatened Victim-1 if she tried to escape.  Eventually, Victim-1 was able to call 911, and police officers arrived and freed her and her child from BRIGHTMAN’s apartment.

In August 2023, BRIGHTMAN brutally attacked and held at knifepoint a Queens woman he had been dating (“Victim-2”).  The attack occurred inside Victim-2’s home, and BRIGHTMAN threatened to use the knife 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.  During one phone call, BRIGHTMAN repeatedly threatened Victim-2. 

In early September 2023, BRIGHTMAN traveled from New Jersey to the Bronx and lured 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 was eventually able to run into her building and call the police. 

Several days later, BRIGHTMAN confronted Victim-3 while she was waiting for a bus home from work.  During the confrontation, BRIGHTMAN repeatedly asked Victim-3 if she had contacted the police about him.  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 her relationship with BRIGHTMAN, 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 watched her while she showered. Victim-4 was discretely able to contact a friend, who eventually arrived at the apartment and helped free her.

In addition to his prison term, BRIGHTMAN, 31, of New Jersey, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department.