Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of LENNY DE LA ROSA, 21, for vandalizing three synagogues and a Jewish volunteer ambulance on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in August 2023. DE LA ROSA is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with four counts of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree as a Hate Crime. [1]
“As alleged, Lenny De La Rosa defaced three synagogues and an ambulance in a series of antisemitic acts,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Synagogues are sacred places where everyone should be able to practice their faith safely. We will not allow our houses of worship to be violated by hateful acts and we do not tolerate bias and antisemitism.”
According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on August 12, 2023, at approximately 7 p.m., DE LA ROSA wrote “JESUS SAINTZZZ” on a screen in front of a synagogue near East 85th Street and Lexington Avenue.
Two days later, at approximately 3:45pm, he wrote “DEAD RIIP” on a glass display in front of a synagogue near East 79th Street and 2nd Avenue. Less than 30 minutes later, he wrote markings on the side of a Hatzalah ambulance – part of a Jewish volunteer ambulance service – near East 85th Street and Lexington Avenue. Less than five minutes later, he wrote “Dead B-P” on the front door of a third synagogue at East 82nd Street and Lexington Avenue.
DE LA ROSA was arrested two days later after an officer recognized him from a wanted flyer.
Assistant D.A. Brendan Mahon (Trial Bureau 60) is 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 D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).
D.A. Bragg thanked the members of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, particularly Detectives Ashley Breton and Lysette Felicianotengco. He also thanked the 19th and 25th Precincts.
Defendant Information:
LENNY DE LA ROSA
Manhattan, NY
Charged:
- Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree as a Hate Crime, class E felony, four counts
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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.