Darrin Johnson, 27, admitted to physically attacking an Asian American man on Calhoun Street at the University of Cincinnati on Aug. 17, 2021.
The Southern District Attorney’s office said Johnson admitted to being motivated by the victim’s race when he threatened to kill the man while saying, “Go back to your county,” and, “You brought the ‘kung flu’ here…you’re going to die for bringing it.”
According to court documents, Johnson then punched the victim on the side of his head, causing him to fall and hit his head on the bumper of a parked car. He lay bleeding there while Johnson continued his assault until two bystanders intervened and restrained Johnson.
“I remain steadfast in the belief that hate has no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “We will continue to use our federal law enforcement authority to investigate and prosecute hate crimes like the one committed by Johnson.”
Before the federal hate crime charges, in October 2021, Johnson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and criminal intimidation for the attack. He was sentenced to serve 360 days in county jail. A federal grand jury indicted him on the hate crime charges that November.
Prosecutors said he could face an additional 22 months in prison.
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