Albuquerque Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime Related to Anti-Semitic Threats Against Businesswoman

WASHINGTON—The Department of Justice announced that this morning John W. Ng, 58, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, made his initial appearance in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with a hate crime offense. This charge is related to anti-Semitic threats Ng made against a Jewish woman who owns and operates the Nosh Jewish Delicatessen and Bakery in Albuquerque.

Ng was arrested by the FBI on March 7, 2014, based on a criminal complaint alleging that he interfered with the victim’s federally protected rights by threatening her and interfering with her business because of her religion. According to the criminal complaint, between January 22, 2014, and February 8, 2014, Ng allegedly posted threatening anti-Semitic notes on and in the vicinity of the victim’s business.

A criminal complaint merely establishes probable cause, and Ng is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. If convicted on the offense charged in the criminal complaint, Ng faces a maximum statutory penalty of one year in prison.

This matter was investigated by the Albuquerque Division of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark T. Baker of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico and Trial Attorney AeJean Cha of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.