Virginia Man Convicted of Anti-Gay Hate Crime

RICHMOND, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Virginia man of committing a hate crime for assaulting a co-worker at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Chester in May 2015.

James William Hill III, 36, of Chester, was found guilty yesterday of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act for his assault on a co-worker at the Amazon Fulfillment Center on May 22, 2015. Evidence showed that Hill assaulted the co-worker because of the co-worker’s perceived sexual orientation. Hill admitted to an Amazon manager and a Chesterfield County Police Officer that he dislikes people who are gay, and further stated that people who are gay should expect to be assaulted because of their sexual orientation.

Hill faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced at a later date. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, John M. Gore, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, and Colonel Jeffrey S. Katz, Chief of Chesterfield County Police Department, made the announcement after the verdict was accepted by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney. Assistant U.S. Attorney S. David Schiller, and Trial Attorney Saeed Mody of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-cr-009.