A Wisconsin man pleaded guilty to one felony count and one misdemeanor count of intimidating and interfering with Black residents because of their race and because they were exercising their right to fair housing, officials stated.
According to court documents, William McDonald, 45, of West Allis, Wisconsin, admitted that in March 2021, he vandalized a Black woman’s vehicle parked outside her apartment by slashing her tires and smashing her windshield.
McDonald then left a note on her car, filled with racial slurs, threatening to slash her throat and demanding she moves out of West Allis.
A week later, McDonald slashed two of her car tires and left another note filled with racial slurs and giving her an ultimatum – move out of the neighborhood or suffer violence.
In April 2022, a Black woman and her two minor children moved into McDonald’s apartment complex.
Shortly after they moved in, McDonald vandalized her front door with racial graffiti and left her a note, calling her family a racial slur and demanding she get out of the building.
“The conduct at issue in this case strikes at the very core of the civil rights guaranteed to every American citizen under federal law,” stated U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “I commend the courage of those targeted by Mr. McDonald for coming forward. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to working with all of our federal, state, and local partners to hold individuals who violate the civil rights of others fully accountable under federal law.”
McDonald faces a maximum sentence of up to 11 years in prison. A sentencing date has been set for June 29.
The FBI Milwaukee Field Office and the West Allis Police Department investigate the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Ladwig and Philip Kovoor for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Nikhil Ramnaney of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.