Federal Hate Crime Indictment Filed Against Man Who Disrupted Shabbat Service at Manhattan Synagogue
Cyberzenhub.com – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York filed a federal complaint on Tuesday charging a 46-year-old Bronx resident with two counts of committing hate crimes and one count of damaging religious property in a manner that caused bodily injury. The indictment elevates what began as a state-level case into a federal prosecution, signaling that prosecutors view the Friday evening disruption at Central Synagogue in Manhattan as a targeted act of religious animus rather than a simple disturbance.
Larry Montes was taken into custody the previous Friday after police described his actions during a Shabbat service as a “random antisemitic attack.” Before the federal complaint was lodged, he had already been arraigned on state charges of criminal mischief and attempted assault with a hate-crime enhancement. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office drafted the initial complaint, and Montes appeared before a judge on that matter, where he was held on $10,000 bail. As of the filing of the federal complaint, no date had been set for his appearance before a federal magistrate judge.
What Happened Inside the Synagogue
Central Synagogue, located on the Upper East Side, hosts weekly Shabbat services that draw congregants for evening prayers marking the Jewish Sabbath. Police accounts describe Montes rising from his seat mid-service and walking toward the front of the sanctuary while shouting, “I am Hashem” — a phrase invoking the Hebrew name for God. He then knocked over two candles along with their holders, shattering the glass and metal fixtures on the floor.
The disturbance escalated as security personnel moved to escort him out. During that process, Montes allegedly struck a 63-year-old woman who had been attending the service, cutting her lip and bruising her arm. He also headbutted a security guard and uttered a racial slur, per the police narrative embedded in the federal complaint.
Statements Made After Arrest
Following his detention, NYPD officers read Montes his Miranda rights before questioning him. In that interview, he reportedly told detectives he felt disrespected during the service. He then characterized the incident in his own words:
“It’s all a racial thing” and it was “all religious motivated.”
Those remarks, preserved in the federal complaint, give prosecutors a direct evidentiary thread linking the physical disruption to animus based on religion and race — the two elements required to sustain a federal hate-crime count under 18 U.S.C. § 247 and related statutes.
What the Federal Charges Mean
Federal hate-crime statutes allow the government to prosecute acts of violence or property destruction motivated by bias against religion, race, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics. Unlike state charges, which carry penalties calibrated to New York’s penal code, the federal counts carry maximum sentences of up to ten years per count for completed acts and up to twenty years if the victim is killed. The additional count for damage to religious property resulting in injury carries its own sentencing range and underscores that the broken candles and holders were not incidental debris but instruments of a targeted assault on a house of worship.
The decision to file in federal court rather than rely solely on the state case typically reflects a determination that the conduct warrants the broader investigative resources of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as well as the heightened symbolic weight of a federal prosecution in a community that has experienced a wave of antisemitic incidents in recent years.
FBI Response
James Barnacle Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office, issued a public statement commenting on the case:
“Larry Montes’ targeted acts of violence on a congregant, security guard, and synagogue during a Shabbat service are deeply disturbing. The FBI condemns any incident driven by bias or hate, and we commend the swift actions of the security personnel and first responders. Hate crimes have no place in New York, and we remain steadfast in protecting every community.”
Broader Context
Antisemitic incidents in New York City have drawn sustained attention from city officials, Jewish community organizations, and federal agencies over the past several years. Synagogues across the five boroughs have increased security staffing, and the NYPD maintains dedicated units for monitoring bias-motivated crimes. A federal indictment of this kind — particularly one filed within days of the underlying incident — signals that prosecutors intend to treat synagogue disruptions as serious offenses warranting the full weight of federal law, not merely local misdemeanors.
For the congregation at Central Synagogue, the broken candles and shattered holders will need replacement before the next Shabbat service. For the 63-year-old woman who sustained a cut lip and bruised arm, the physical injuries are minor but the psychological impact of being struck during a sacred observance is a separate matter. The federal case, once Montes appears before a magistrate and the complaint is formally accepted, will proceed through discovery, possible plea negotiations, and ultimately trial if no resolution is reached. The $10,000 bail condition remains in effect pending that federal proceeding.
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