FLORIDA
Federal officials said Tuesday that David H. Howard, 59, of Tampa, Florida, plead guilty in federal court to threatening to burn down a house simply because it was being purchased by a Muslim family, according to officials.
Howard admitted to one count of threatening, intimidating, and interfering with a Muslim family’s enjoyment of their housing rights.
Howard intimidated and interfered with the victims, who sought to purchase a home in the Davis Islands neighborhood of Tampa, Florida, by threatening to burn down the home.
A sentencing date has not yet been set. Howard faces up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000, according to officials.
The Tampa Bay Times reported that Kaderbhai and Sehera Ali Asgar and the wife’s elderly parents arrived the morning of Nov. 3, 2016, for a final look at the property at 632 Luzon Ave.
The husband wore a topi, a woven cap worn by Muslim men, and his wife and mother-in-law wore headscarves and traditional Indian attire, according to the Times.
That’s when they encountered Howard, who initially aimed his anger at seller Herb Donica, the Times report stated.
“You lied to me, you lied to me, you told me those people would not be moving into the house,” he said.
He declared, “This sale will not take place. I will break all of your f—— windows and I will burn your f—— house down.”
And, according to the agreement he signed, he told the Asgars they were not welcome.
In a 2017 lawsuit, still pending, the prospective buyers demanded a return of their deposit of $30,000 from the home’s owners, plus damages from two neighbors, including Howard, for “infliction of emotional distress.”
While providing sworn testimony for that case on Sept. 25, Howard said that his temper sometimes flared, which he attributed to a testosterone supplement he was taking for weight gain, the Times reported.
According to Hillsborough court records: “I was upset,” he testified. “I was very upset, okay. This drug that I’m taking to increase weight has a negative effect, and you have to have heard of people that have had road rages, guys in high school, college that are taking steroids.”
Kaderbhai Asgar and his wife hurried away from the house and canceled the closing of the home purchase that was scheduled to take place the next day. In the days that followed, Howard retold his version of the incident to neighbors, making insulting remarks about Muslims, according to authorities.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate illegal threats or acts of intimidation against any individual because of their religious beliefs,” said Acting Assistant Attorney John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute hate crime offenders.”
“Individuals and families should have the right to live wherever they choose, without intimidation or fear,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida. “Crimes perpetrated against people because of their race, ethnicity, color, or religious beliefs simply cannot be tolerated. And, we will prosecute those who commit these crimes to the fullest extent possible.”
“Hate-motivated crimes are not only an attack on the victim but are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Eric W. Sporre. “Reporting these types of crimes along with cooperation of the community is critical to ensuring a successful outcome in cases like this.”