Photo: Law and Crime
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida announced today that a federal grand jury in Tampa, Florida, returned a two-count indictment charging Jordan Patrick Leahy, 29, with committing hate crimes for his racially-motivated attack on a Black man who was driving along a public road in Seminole, Florida.
The indictment alleges that on Aug. 8, 2021, Leahy willfully intimidated and interfered withthe Black man, referred to as J.T., and attempted to injure, intimidate and interfere with J.T. through the use of a dangerous weapon (Leahy’s vehicle), because of J.T.’s race and color, and because J.T. was traveling on a public road in Seminole, Florida.
According to the indictment, J.T.’s girlfriend and daughter were also in the car with J.T. when Leahy allegedly committed the attack.
J.T is said to have defended his family and reportedly put Leahy in a submission hold before police arrived.
Leahy allegedly gave a Nazi salute and threatened to commit a mass shooting.
According to police, Leahy said “Ya’ll need to control them. They are like savage animals.”
If convicted, Leahy faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
