Dan Sohail, 36, was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to ramming his car into the Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters in New York earlier this year. A judge ruled that his actions were driven by mental health issues rather than antisemitic hatred. Sohail, who has spent six months in custody, will be released next week and must pay $19,000 in restitution, according to reports.
The sentencing of Dan Sohail, 36, for ramming his car into the Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters in Crown Heights, New York, concluded on Thursday with a final ruling that the attack was not a hate crime. Sohail was ordered to pay $19,000 in restitution — a reduction from earlier reports of $20,000 — and, having served six months in custody, is expected to be released next week. The judge determined that his actions were driven by mental health issues rather than antisemitic hatred.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday, initial reports had indicated a six-month sentence, later clarified to six months and one week, with the judge citing mental health. The latest update confirms the exact restitution amount and the definitive ruling that the incident was not classified as a hate crime. Sohail had pleaded guilty to damaging the building.
The incident occurred in January, when Sohail repeatedly drove his car into the side entrance of the Chabad headquarters. No one was injured. The case drew attention due to the high-profile target and the question of whether it constituted a hate crime. The judge noted Sohail's prior outreach to Jewish organizations, which he claimed was an attempt to reconnect with his Jewish heritage.
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