A Bay Area rideshare driver was charged with a federal hate crime for allegedly punching a rider who he thought was Jewish or Israeli in the face.
Csaba John Csukás, 39, was arrested Wednesday for an alleged assault that happened on Oct. 26, 2023, according to a report by KTLA sister station KRON.
Court documents said Csukás, a Daly City resident, was working for an app-based rideshare company and picking up a customer at SFO when he struck the customer in the face because he believed the customer to be Jewish or Israeli.
Csukás also allegedly asked the victim whether he was Jewish or Israeli and said he would not transport a Jewish or Israeli person before attacking the victim.
Several federal officials condemned the attack calling it “senseless and brutal” in a news release.
“No one in this country should live in fear because of how they worship or where they come from,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will aggressively prosecute those who perpetrate hate-fueled violence motivated by antisemitism or by bias of any kind.”
Csukás appeared in court Wednesday and was charged with committing a federal hate crime which prohibits, among other things, causing bodily injury because of the actual or perceived religion or national origin of a person in circumstances affecting interstate commerce, officials said.
Csukás faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.