A Florida man has been sentenced to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing two federal hate crimes by attacking two Black women with a gun.
Frederick Eugene Pierallini III, 27, pleaded guilty to these crimes on July 6, 2023.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated:
“The defendant is being held accountable for targeting two Black women with a gun on two separate days because of their race. No one in this country should have to live in fear that when they use public spaces or work at their job, they risk attack by someone who hates them because of the color of their skin. The Justice Department is committed to protecting Black people from racially-motivated violence. We will continue to be relentless in investigating and prosecuting individuals who threaten or commit unlawful acts of hate.”
U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida echoed these sentiments, stating:
“The violent assaults committed against these two women because of their race are intolerable. There is no place in our society for such heinous acts. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who target individuals and communities because of their race, ethnicity, or beliefs.”
Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division emphasized the seriousness of hate crimes, saying:
“Hate crimes like these are not only attacks on the victims but are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community. The FBI and our partners will continue to prioritize investigating civil rights violations and work together tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.”
According to court documents, Pierallini intimidated the victims and interfered with their enjoyment of federally protected activities using force or a threat of force because of their race and color.
Victim 1 was working as a clerk at a convenience store in Jacksonville, Florida, when Pierallini attempted to buy snacks, had his card declined, and then pointed a shotgun at her, using racial slurs.
Two days later, Pierallini approached Victim 2 on a public sidewalk, directed racial slurs at her, threatened to kill her, and fired a single shot from a shotgun, causing her to fall to the ground.
The case was investigated by the FBI Jacksonville Field Office and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Washington for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Anna Gotfryd of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
