By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK, N.Y. (July 29, 2026) — A New Jersey man has received a six-month federal prison sentence following an incident early this year in which he repeatedly struck the world headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement with his automobile.

The individual, identified as a thirty-six-year-old resident of Carteret, New Jersey, was sentenced in federal court in Brooklyn after admitting to charges of intentionally causing damage to religious property. Because he has remained in federal custody since his arrest in late January, the court ruling effectively covers his time already served, allowing for his release within days.

The occurrence transpired on January 28, when the individual drove his sedan into a side entrance of the historic facility located at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights. Bystanders were warned away prior to the impact, and no injuries were reported among the many individuals inside the complex at the time, though structural damage was sustained by the entrance doors.

During proceedings, government attorneys requested a significantly longer period of incarceration, citing a sharp increase in attacks targeting Jewish institutions across the region and emphasizing the need for a strong deterrent. However, the presiding federal magistrate determined that extended imprisonment was unnecessary, pointing to psychiatric evaluations indicating that acute mental health struggles and a desperate search for personal belonging played a central role in the event. Court records confirmed that the driver had previously spent time at the location engaging with congregants before experiencing severe psychological distress.

In addition to the time served, the court mandated that the defendant pay twenty thousand dollars in financial restitution to repair the property damage.