BROOKLYN — A Manhattan man who targeted Chinese women in Borough Park over a two-week stretch last year has pleaded guilty to robbery as a hate crime and will be sentenced to 12 years in prison, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.
Manuel Israel, 21, robbed five Chinese women and tried to steal from a sixth, all because of their race, prosecutors said. All of the incidents took place last year from March 21 to April 4.
In each incident, Israel approached the victims from behind and tugged on their handbags, causing them to fall to the ground, before making off with the bags, the DA's Office said.
Three of the victims suffered injuries. Investigators determined Israel chose Chinese women because he thought they were most vulnerable, prosecutors said.
Acting Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez said Israel must now be held accountable.
“This defendant specifically robbed Chinese women because they walked alone and he believed they wouldn’t fight back or be able to identify him,” he said in a statement.
“Hate crimes based on a person’s race, gender, sexual identity or ethnicity destroy the fabric of our communities and will not be tolerated.”
