LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury right now returned a four-count indictment charging a former Riverside resident with hate crime and firearms offenses for allegedly capturing two Jewish males after they left synagogues within the Pico-Robertson space of Los Angeles final month.
Jaime Tran, 28, is charged with two hate crime counts for willfully inflicting bodily harm and trying to kill his victims. The grand jury additional charged Tran with two counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a criminal offense of violence.
Tran has been in federal custody since his February 17 arrest on a criminal complaint on this case. His arraignment is scheduled for March 9 in United States District Courtroom in downtown Los Angeles.
Based on the indictment, Tran developed and espoused antisemitic beliefs and made violent threats towards Jewish individuals. For instance, in 2018, Tran left dental faculty after making hate-filled statements about different college students whom he perceived to be Jewish, the indictment states.
From August 2022 to December 2022, Tran’s antisemitic statements escalated and used more and more violent language, together with in opposition to a former classmate whom he repeatedly referred to as and texted with messages akin to “I would like you lifeless, Jew. Somebody goes to kill you, Jew,” and “Burn in an oven chamber,” the indictment alleges.
In November 2022, Tran allegedly emailed two dozen former classmates a flyer containing antisemitic propaganda, together with the assertion, “EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF THE COVID AGENDA IS JEWISH.”
Tran allegedly acquired a minimum of two firearms earlier than the assaults and carried out web searches for “kosher markets” to study areas the place Jewish individuals congregate.
At roughly 9:45 a.m. on February 15, 2023, Tran allegedly drove to the Pico-Robertson neighborhood of Los Angeles, positioned a person recognized within the indictment as “Sufferer A,” who was carrying a black jacket and yarmulke, and had simply left spiritual providers at a synagogue. Tran allegedly shot Sufferer A within the again at shut vary, desiring to kill him, however Sufferer A, although wounded, survived.
The next morning, Tran returned to the Pico-Robertson space, desiring to kill one other Jewish particular person, in response to the indictment. At roughly 8 a.m., Tran allegedly approached a person carrying a dark-colored jacket and yarmulke and who’s recognized within the indictment as “Sufferer B.” Tran, desiring to kill Sufferer B, allegedly shot and wounded the sufferer, who survived the assault.
An indictment comprises allegations {that a} defendant has dedicated a criminal offense. Each defendant is presumed harmless till and until confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt.
If convicted of all fees, Tran would face a statutory most sentence of life in federal jail for every hate crime depend, and a most of life and necessary minimal sentence of 10 years for every firearms depend.
The FBI and the Los Angeles Police Division are investigating this matter. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Division, the Cathedral Metropolis Police Division and the Fountain Valley Police Division supplied substantial help.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kathrynne Seiden and Maria Jhai of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Part and Frances Lewis of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Part are prosecuting this case.