OKLAHOMA CITY - An Oklahoma City man pleaded guilty today in the Western District of Oklahoma for assaulting two neighbors inside their apartment building in Okinawa, Japan, while working for the United States Armed Forces overseas as a civilian engineer, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing, Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Air Force Office of Special Investigations Commander Brigadier General Terry L. Bullard.
Brendan Rowin Figuly, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. For each count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, Figuly faces a maximum penalty of up to ten years and a fine up to $250,000. Figuly will be sentenced in approximately 90 days.
According to admissions made as part of his plea, Figuly was living in Okinawa, Japan, in connection with his employment for the U.S. Armed Forces. Figuly was a civilian engineer working at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa. On April 11, 2020, Figuly was living in a multi-unit apartment building off-base. That afternoon, he entered the apartment of a female neighbor, E.M., armed with a box cutter knife, and demanded to know where their landlord was, claiming that he wanted to kill the landlord. Figuly then attacked E.M., strangling her until she fell unconscious, cutting her fingers with a knife, and striking her in the face with a baking dish. E.M. fled to her apartment balcony, and Figuly pursued her, breaking the balcony door in the process. E.M.’s husband J.M. then entered the apartment, at which point Figuly threatened to kill J.M. Figuly then assaulted J.M. with a box cutter knife, before J.M. and another neighbor subdued Figuly.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Harley of the Western District of Oklahoma and Trial Attorney Mona Sahaf of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
