A federal jury in Florida found Jordan Patrick Leahy, 29, guilty of a racially-motivated attack against a Black man traveling down a public roadway with his family, officials stated Thursday.
Court evidence showed that on Aug. 8, 2021, Leahy came upon the victim, J.T., who was driving his daughter and girlfriend home from a family gathering, and began threatening J.T., calling him racial slurs, and attempted to force J.T. and his family off the road.
Leahy’s pursuit of J.T. and his family before Leahy sideswiped J.T. as J.T. attempted to evade the attack.
Leahy fled the scene of the accident but stopped at the next red light.
J.T. pulled behind Leahy at the light, and Leahy got out of his car, stormed at J.T., and tried to assault him, again yelling racial slurs.
When officers from the Pinellas County Sherriff’s Office arrived on the scene, Leahy made numerous statements, including telling the officers that Black people need to be kept “in their areas.”
“Hate crimes are not just an attack on an individual, they are an attack on entire communities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Walker. “We want to assure the public the FBI will work diligently investigating crimes driven by hate and intolerance. We encourage anyone who believes their civil rights have been violated to report it to the FBI.”
If convicted, Leahy faces up to 10 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlton Gammons for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorneys David Reese and Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.