
A Minnesota man faces federal hate crime charges after being accused of assaulting a Black man outside a bar, as revealed in court documents. Justin Anthony Kudla, 35, was indicted for allegedly using force, or the threat of force, to injure and intimidate the victim based on the victim's race and enjoyment of the local bar's services. The indictment, which was unsealed, states that on February 3, Kudla committed these acts because of the victim's race, color, religion, and/or national origin. It is important to note that the indictment itself is not a conviction and Kudla remains innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The U.S. Attorney's Office statement details the charges which include one count of interference with federally protected activities and another count of committing a hate crime. Following his initial court appearance before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster, Kudla could face up to a decade in prison for each count and around $250,000 in fines if convicted.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Minneapolis Field Office, together with the Belle Plaine Police Department, carried out the investigation that led to the indictment. The prosecution team features Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Gilead of the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorneys Katherine G. DeVar and Briana M. Clark from the Civil Rights Division. Their collective efforts are critical in order to try and ensure that justice is served, and to potentially deter similar hate crimes in the future.