A Quincy man has admitted to a horrendous act of bigotry, pleading guilty to a federal hate crime charge after attacking an Asian American family. John Sullivan, 78, faced the consequences of his actions before U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper, with a sentencing date set for June 26. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, his indictment came after a grand jury saw fit to charge him in February 2023 following the violent incident that occurred outside a Quincy post office on December 2, 2022.
In a disturbing encounter caught in the crosshairs of racial animus, Sullivan verbally accosted a Vietnamese family, a group that included children as young as 12, ordering them to "go back to China" and threatening their lives. He went on to intentionally ram one of the family members with his car, an assault that left the victim clinging to the vehicle as it traveled some 200 feet. After a brief halt, he cruelly hit them once more, resulting in injuries as the victim tumbled into a construction ditch. According to a press release from the Department of Justice, this overt act of hate could land Sullivan behind bars for up to ten years, not to mention possible supervised release and a hefty fine of up to $250,000.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy did not mince words describing the reprehensible nature of Sullivan's actions. In a statement racially tinged violence serves as "a sad reflection of intolerance and hate that is far too prevalent in our society." Levy emphasized that such behaviors, especially when they victimize individuals in front of impressionable youth based on race and national origin, will meet with aggressive prosecution.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the broader impact of such hate-driven violence. "This defendant’s hate-filled attack not only seriously injured the victim, but also traumatized three children in his family, solely because they were Asian American," Clarke told the Department of Justice. Responding to a climate of escalating hate crimes, Clarke asserted, "No person in this country should have to fear for their safety because of who they are or where they are from."
The gravity of Sullivan's crime was further underscored by Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Boston Division. Cohen stressed that while individuals are free to hold their beliefs, when those views evolve to inspire violence, it becomes "a different and dangerous story." Cohen's statement to the Department of Justice also urged victims or witnesses of hate crimes to come forward and inform authorities.
The joint effort by federal and local law enforcement agencies, including indispensable support from the Quincy Police Department and the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, brought Sullivan to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit and Tara Allison of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are leading the prosecution.
