Racist Manhattan Man Pleads Guilty To Robbing Chinese Women In Borough Park “Because They Walked Alone”

“This defendant specifically robbed Chinese women because they walked alone and he believed they wouldn’t fight back or be able to identify him,” Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced in a press release this morning. “Hate crimes based on a person’s race, gender, sexual identity or ethnicity destroy the fabric of our communities and will not be tolerated. This defendant has now been held accountable.”

Gonzalez is referring to a perp who robbed five Chinese women and attempted to rob a sixth in separate Borough Park incidents. The defendant, 21-year-old Manuel Israel of Manhattan, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of second-degree robbery. Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun indicated he will sentence Israel to 12 years in prison.

According to the investigation, on April 6, 2016 just after midnight near 55th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway

…a 23-year-old woman of Chinese descent was walking alone when the defendant approached her from behind and repeatedly pulled on her purse, causing her to fall to the ground. He then stood over her and stated: “Give me all of your money.”

A bystander saw Israel with his arm around the victim’s neck in an apparent struggle and called 911. Police immediately responded to the scene and apprehended Israel about 20 minutes later, six blocks from the scene.

Israel admitted to committing five other similar robberies of Chinese women aged 21 to 43 in 2016, all near Fort Hamilton Parkway between 55th and 71st Streets. Three of Israel’s victims suffered injuries including lacerations and bruising.