Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. today announced the guilty plea of today announced the guilty plea of BRANDON ELLIOT, 41, for brutally assaulting a 65-year-old woman of Filipino descent on a Midtown sidewalk while making anti-Asian statements. ELLIOT pleaded guilty in a New York State Supreme Court to one count of Assault in the First Degree as a Hate Crime and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree. He is expected to be sentenced on January 3, 2024, to a promised term of 15 years in state prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

“Brandon Elliot brutally and repeatedly assaulted a 65-year-old mother in a hate-fueled attack that shook our city,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Everyone deserves to be safe and know they belong here, regardless of who they are. Anyone who commits acts of violence driven by hate will be prosecuted. If you have been a victim or witness to a hate crime or bias incident, please call our Office at 212-335-3100.”

As admitted in the defendant’s guilty plea, and according to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on March 29, 2021, at approximately 11:40 a.m., ELLIOT approached a 65-year-old woman of Filipino descent on the sidewalk of West 43rd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. ELLIOT stated, in substance, “F— you, you don’t belong here.” ELLIOT kicked the woman in the torso, knocking her to the ground, and proceeded to repeatedly kick and stomp on her head and body. When a Good Samaritan approached to intervene, ELLIOT threatened the man with a knife before fleeing the scene. The woman was taken to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with a fractured pelvis, forehead contusions, and contusions across her body. 

ELLIOT was arrested on two days later, with the help of a CrimeStoppers tip.    

Assistant D.A.s Courtney Razner and John Fuller (Human Trafficking Unit) are handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Constantine Coritsidis (Deputy Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), Hannah Yu (Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Trial Division Chief). Assistant D.A.s Robert Ferrari (Chief of Trial Bureau 40), Jeanne Olivo (Chief of the Cold Case Unit), Mary LeSeur (Investigative Analyst of the Human Trafficking Unit), Julie Anne Lim (Senior Hate Crimes Investigative Analyst), Gisele Moyano (Senior Rackets Investigator) and Siobhan Berry (Supervising Rackets Investigator) all provided valuable assistance with the case.  

D.A. Bragg thanked the members of the New York City Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force, especially Detective Michael Rodriguez.  

Defendant Information:

BRANDON ELLIOT
New York, NY

Convicted:

• Assault in the First Degree as a Hate Crime, a class B felony, one count
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count

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