Florida Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Hate Crimes Against Two Black Women

Jacksonville resident Frederick Pierallini III, 27, has been sentenced to five years in prison for committing hate crimes against two Black women in Florida.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that Pierallini pleaded guilty on July 6 to the charges, which include assaulting the women while brandishing a firearm

In addition to his 60-month prison term, Pierallini will serve three years of supervised release once his sentence is completed. Middle District U.S.

Attorney Roger Handberg condemned Pierallini’s actions. “The violent assaults committed against these two women because of their race are intolerable,” said Handberg. “There is no place in our society for such heinous acts.”

Court documents detail the incidents: on September 10, 2022, Pierallini attempted to steal snacks from a convenience store after his card was declined.

He confronted the store clerk with racial slurs, accusing her of incompetence. Pierallini returned to the store armed with a shotgun and pointed it at the clerk, who fled the scene.

Two days later, Pierallini targeted another woman seated on a sidewalk. He hurled racist remarks and threatened to kill her. Pierallini left but came back with a shotgun and fired a shot, narrowly missing the woman as she fell to the ground.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division emphasized the importance of protecting individuals from racially motivated violence.

“No one in this country should have to live in fear of being attacked because of the color of their skin,” she said.

Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division noted that hate crimes are not just attacks on individuals but entire communities.

“Hate crimes like these are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community,” he stated.

The DOJ clarifies that “hate” in the context of hate crime laws refers to bias against people or groups based on race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.

Court records show that Pierallini used intimidation tactics against both victims and interfered with their ability to freely engage in federally protected activities due to their racial identity.