LOS ANGELES — A former Riverside resident who shot two Jewish men after they left synagogues in the Pico-Robertson district last year less than 24 hours apart was sentenced Monday to 35 years in federal prison.
Jaime Tran, 30, pleaded guilty in June in downtown Los Angeles to all charges against him: two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill and two counts of using, carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
"After years of spewing antisemitic vitriol, the defendant planned and carried out a two-day attack attempting to murder Jews leaving synagogue in Los Angeles," Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement.
"Vile acts of antisemitic hatred endanger the safety of individuals and entire communities, and allowing such crimes to go unchecked endangers the foundation of our democracy itself. As millions of Jewish Americans prepare to observe the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Justice Department reaffirms its commitment to aggressively confronting, disrupting and prosecuting criminal acts motivated by antisemitism, or by hatred of any kind. No Jewish person in America should have to fear that any sign of their identity will make them the victim of a hate crime."
Both victims survived the attacks.
Tran admitted espousing antisemitic beliefs and making violent threats toward Jewish people. For example, in 2018, he left dental school after making hate-filled statements about other students whom he perceived to be Jewish.
From August to December 2022, Tran's antisemitic statements escalated and he used increasingly violent language, including against a former classmate whom he repeatedly called and texted with messages such as "I want you dead, Jew. Someone is going to kill you, Jew" and "Burn in an oven chamber," according to his plea agreement filed in LA federal court.
In November 2022, Tran emailed two dozen former classmates a flyer containing antisemitic propaganda, including a statement blaming the COVID-19 pandemic on a Jewish conspiracy.
As a result of previous mental health holds, Tran was prohibited from purchasing firearms as of last year. In January 2023 in Phoenix, Tran asked someone to buy two firearms for him. Tran selected the firearms and paid $1,500 in cash to the person, who then purchased them, prosecutors said.
Tran acknowledged that on the morning of Feb. 15, 2023, he used the internet to research locations with a "kosher market," and planned to shoot someone near such a market because he believed there would be Jewish people in the area.
Tran drove to Pico-Robertson and shot a Jewish victim wearing a yarmulke as he was leaving religious services at a synagogue. Believing the victim was Jewish, Tran shot him at close range in the back, intending to kill him. Tran then drove away from the scene.
The next morning, Feb. 16, 2023, Tran returned to the Pico-Robertson area, intending to shoot another Jewish person. Tran shot a second Jewish victim, also wearing a yarmulke and leaving a synagogue after attending religious services. Tran shot the victim at close range, intending to kill him, as the victim crossed the street. Tran again left the scene.
Law enforcement arrested Tran on Feb. 17, 2023, and he has remained in custody.
The Jewish Federation Los Angeles issued a statement declaring it is "grateful" for the sentence.
"We thank the LAPD, FBI, and the United States Attorney's Office, whose joint efforts led to today's result," the statement said. "Our community appreciates the swift filing of federal charges, thorough investigation, and successful prosecution of this hate crime. We hope today's decision helps to bring closure to the victims and their families and makes our broader Jewish community feel protected."
Said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada: "Targeting people for death based solely on their religious and ethnic background brings back memories of the darkest chapters in human history. Such hate-fueled violence has no place in America. We hope the sentence imposed today sends a strong message to all in our community that we will not tolerate antisemitism and hate of any sort. For those who engage in hate crimes, the punishment will be severe."
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, whose district includes the area where the shootings occurred, said the "sentencing brings a measure of closure to our community, but we know the pain caused by these vile acts of antisemitism lingers."
"As we move forward, we must redouble our efforts to ensure our Jewish community, and all communities of faith, can worship without fear," she said.