Overview
- Dan Sohail, who pleaded guilty Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court, admitted he intentionally drove into the synagogue’s side entrance five times during a January memorial event.
- He pleaded to one federal civil-rights count of damaging religious property, which carries a maximum of three years in prison and mandatory restitution.
- Prosecutors said guidelines recommend zero to six months, with potential fines up to $250,000 and roughly $19,000 in restitution to repair the door he destroyed.
- Authorities said he parked nearby, removed protective barriers, motioned people away from the doorway, and then rammed the entrance repeatedly; no injuries were reported.
- Federal prosecutors and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division led the case after state charges were dropped, and sentencing will follow a presentence report as he moves from Rikers to federal custody; reporting has also noted prior visits to the site and mental-health concerns raised by his family and lawyers.