Two brothers from Ocala, Florida have been charged with a federal hate crime after brutally attacking a black man while shouting racial slurs. The indictment, which was unsealed on [no date provided], alleges that Roy Lashley, 55, and Robert Lashley, 52, willfully caused bodily injury to the victim because of his actual and perceived race on November 17, 2021.
According to the indictment, the defendants repeatedly called the victim racial slurs and repeatedly struck him with closed fists and an axe handle. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum term of 10 years imprisonment, three years of mandatory supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the indictment. Trial Attorneys Maura White and Matthew Tannenbaum of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Bodnar Jr. of the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendants’ arrest has sparked widespread outrage and calls for greater action to combat hate crimes in the United States.
For more information and resources about the department’s work to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
The case against the Lashley brothers is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to eradicate hate crimes in our society. It is imperative that we continue to work towards creating a more just and equitable world, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Related Federal Cases
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- Janice Martina Mason, Voluntary Manslaughter, Florida, 2023 · Maryland
- FBI Florida Offices, No Title or Defendant Mentioned, Florida, 2023 · Florida
- Michael Yoder Threatened to Blow Up Polling Place, South Florida, 2024 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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