U. S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger | U.S. Department of Justice
A Minnesota man has been indicted and charged with federal hate crime offenses following an assault on a Black man outside a bar, as announced by U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
The indictment, unsealed this afternoon, states that on or about February 3, 2024, Justin Anthony Kudla, 35, used force or the threat of force to injure, intimidate, and interfere with the victim identified as Victim 1 due to his race, color, religion, and/or national origin. The incident occurred while Victim 1 was at a local bar. Kudla is also charged with willfully causing bodily injury to Victim 1 because of his actual and perceived race.
Kudla faces one count of interference with federally protected activities and one count of hate crime. He appeared in U.S. District Court today before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster. If convicted of these offenses, Kudla could face up to 10 years in prison for each offense and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case results from an investigation by the FBI Minneapolis Field Office with help from the Belle Plaine Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Gilead for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorneys Katherine G. DeVar and Briana M. Clark from the Civil Rights Division are handling the prosecution.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
