A Quincy man was indicted in front of a grand jury in Boston on Wednesday after allegedly yelling anti-Asian sentiment at a family and striking one member twice with his car in December.
“As this case demonstrates, we will aggressively prosecute hate crimes and other civil-rights offenses committed because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any individual or group” said U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins in a Department of Justice release, calling the behavior “reprehensible.”
John Sullivan, 77, was charged Wednesday with one count of violating the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which may carry a sentence of up to 10 years, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
On the morning of Dec. 2, Sullivan was driving near a Quincy post office when he was seen exchanging word with pedestrians — an older brother and sister walking with three children — about his speed, according to police accounts.
Sullivan allegedly said “Go back to China,” before hitting the 38-year-old man with the group and driving about 50 yards with the man on his hood.
He allegedly repeated the phrase and knocked the man into a construction ditch before driving away, police said.
The victim suffered a concussion and other injuries, according to his sister.
Sullivan previously pleaded not guilty to charges including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle collision causing personal injury and violating civil rights in December.
“Hate crimes are not only an attack on the victim, but they also instill fear and threaten and intimidate an entire community, which is why the FBI worked so closely with the Quincy Police Department to bring Mr. Sullivan to face justice,” said Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division.
Bonavolonta urged residents to report any potential incidents, saying “hate-based violence has no place in our society and will…
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