Assault of Congregants Outside a Washington D.C. Synagogue Charged as a Federal Hate Crime

Press Release

The Defendant, of Toledo, Ohio, Is a Fugitive on Related Counts

WASHINGTON -A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Brent Wood, 35, of Toledo, Ohio, with three counts of obstructing by force or threat of force a person's enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs, while using a dangerous weapon.

The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office.

The indictment alleges that on December 17, 2023, Wood drove a U-Haul truck around security barriers and parked on the sidewalk directly in front of Kesher Israel Congregation Synagogue, at 2801 N St NW, Washington, DC. Over the next several minutes, while in the immediate vicinity of the synagogue, Wood accosted congregants and others by spraying a noxious aerosol and yelling, "Gas the Jews!"

Wood faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the three counts. The hate crimes sentencing enhancement increases the guidelines range of the potential sentence. Wood previously was charged in D.C. Superior Court with simple assault. He is currently a fugitive in that case.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Crabb Jr.

For more information and resources about the Justice Department's work to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Updated August 8, 2024