Evergreen Reporter

Kenneth Pinkney, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman. Pinkney had previously pled guilty to assaulting a federal employee with a hate crime enhancement under 18 U.S.C. § 111(a) and (b). The victim, a United States Postal Service (USPS) worker and Muslim woman who wore a hijab while delivering mail, was attacked on her postal route.

“Hate crimes represent vicious attacks on the very fabric of our diverse communities. No one should live in fear of being targeted because of their religious beliefs,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Davis for the Southern District of Florida. “Everyone, including federal employees, have the right to carry out their duties safely. Justice was served today with the 3-year prison sentence imposed on Kenneth Pinkney for his brutal assault on a Muslim postal employee.”

"Targeting people based on their religion has no place in South Florida and America," said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Miami Field Office. "The defendant verbally and physically attacked the victim based on her religious beliefs as she was simply trying to fulfill her civic duty to the community."

Juan A. Vargas, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division of the Postal Inspection Service, emphasized that protecting postal employees is a core mission: “The result of this investigation is a testament to the dedicated work Postal Inspectors and our federal and state law enforcement partners will commit to ensuring that those that cause them harm will be pursued and brought to justice for their crimes.”

According to court records, including a factual proffer supporting the plea, Pinkney's attack occurred shortly after Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023 when he saw the victim wearing her hijab while delivering mail from her USPS vehicle.

On October 24, 2023, while she was stopped along her route delivering mail, Pinkney approached her on a bicycle making hand gestures simulating a firearm and verbal threats such as "go back to your country." He later assaulted her physically by attempting to pull her from her USPS truck and forcibly removing her hijab.

The incident left scratches on the victim’s face and led to Pinkney's arrest following his escape from the scene.

The announcement came from First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Davis for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI Miami Field Office; Chief William Schultz of Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD); and Juan A. Vargas from USPIS Miami Division.

FBI Miami, FLPD, and USPIS investigated this case with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gilfarb prosecuting it.

Further details can be found at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60014.

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