Man Gets 11-Year Sentence In Anti-Semitic Brooklyn Strangling: DA

BROOKLYN, NY — A man convicted of a brutal attack on a Jewish man walking home from Sabbath prayers at the synagogue has been sentenced to 11 years in prison, prosecutors announced this week.

James, Vincent, 44, was sentenced Monday on the strangulation and assault as a hate crime charges, which stem from a 2018 unprovoked attack in East Flatbush, prosecutors said.

Vincent had yelled epithets and cursed at the 52-year-old Jewish man before strangling him near Rutland Road, prosecutors said.

“This was a frightening and unprovoked attack that left an innocent man terrorized," District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "We will not tolerate bias-motivated crimes in Brooklyn, where we pride ourselves on the diversity of our neighbors. I hope that this sentence sends the message that my Office will pursue and bring to justice those who target our community members with hate-fueled violence.”

Vincent first walked up to the Jewish man near Rutland Road and East 46th Street around 1 p.m. the day of the attack, yelling "You #$%& Jew, you Jews took my house and mortgage" at him, according to prosecutors.

After the man walked away, Vincent ran up behind him and placed his hands on his neck. He then punched the man and put his arms around his head before two bystanders intervened, prosecutors said.

Vincent kept yelling about the victim's religion while the man picked up his yarmulke and kippah, prosectors said.

The man was left with several injuries to his head and body, according to prosecutors.

Wednesday's sentencing comes more than three years after Vincent's arrest. He was caught by police a week after the attack when surveillance video showed him buying ice cream with a credit card in a nearby store, prosecutors said.