John Sullivan, Hate Crime, Massachusetts 2024

BOSTON – In a disturbing display of racial intolerance, a Quincy man pleaded guilty today to committing a hate crime, putting the safety and well-being of an entire community at risk.

John Sullivan, 78, pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a federal law designed to protect individuals from violent attacks motivated by bias and hatred.

The heinous crime occurred on Dec. 2, 2022, when Sullivan encountered a Vietnamese family outside a post office in Quincy. The defendant, who had never met the family before, yelled at them to “go back to China,” and threatened to kill them. He then drove his car into one of the family members, causing the victim to land on the hood of the moving car and remain there while the car moved approximately 200 feet.

After Sullivan stopped the car and the victim slid off, Sullivan again drove his car forward, hitting the victim a second time, causing the victim to fall into a construction ditch and suffer injury.

'The actions of John Sullivan are appalling and a sad reflection of intolerance and hate that is far too prevalent in our society,' said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. 'This behavior will never be tolerated and we will continue to aggressively prosecute hate crimes.'

The charge provides for a maximum sentence of 10 years, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for June 26, 2024. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Quincy Police Department and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit and Tara Allison of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

The FBI and law enforcement agencies will continue to work together to combat hate crimes and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions. 'No person in this country should have to fear for their own or their family’s safety because of who they are or where they are from,' said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke.

The FBI urges anyone who is a victim or witness to a hate crime to report it to us at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/quincy-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crime