MIAMI – A 47-year-old Fort Lauderdale man appeared in federal court on Friday in Miami to be sentenced after he was convicted of a hate crime.
Kenneth Pinkney admitted to attacking a Muslim woman and removing her hijab while she was delivering mail as a U.S. Postal Service worker in Wilton Manors.
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The woman, who suffered scratches on her face, reported Pinkney shouted — “[Expletive] Islam!” and “You are a terrorist!”— at her during the Oct. 24 attack near Northwest Ninth Avenue and 24 Street.
“Hate crimes represent vicious attacks on the very fabric of our diverse communities,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Davis said in a statement.
Months after the attack, the woman told Local 10 News that she felt traumatized and continued to receive treatment from healthcare professionals both physically and mentally.
Pinkney pleaded guilty to assault on a federal employee with a hate crime enhancement and U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman sentenced him to 37 months in prison, and 3 years of supervised release
“No one should live in fear of being targeted because of their religious beliefs,” Davis said adding that anyone with information about a hate crime on a federal employee should contact the FBI at 1-800-225-5324.