New York Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime Conspiracy

WASHINGTON – Brian Carranza, 21, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Carol B. Amon in Brooklyn, N.Y., to conspiring to assault African-American residents in Staten Island, N.Y., in retaliation for President Barack Obama winning last year’s presidential election, Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King for the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Benton J. Campbell announced.

Carranza, of Staten Island, N.Y., faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a 250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set by the court.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the New York City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Kristy Parker of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela Chen.