Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the sentencing of GINO SOZIO, 40, to 9 years in state prison for slashing a 22-year-old Muslim-American man, while he was out with friends, in an anti-Muslim attack in Midtown on December 31, 2022. On April 3, 2024, a New York Supreme Court jury found SOZIO guilty of one count each of Attempted Assault in the First Degree as a Hate Crime, Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree. SOZIO was sentenced on June 11, 2024.
“Gino Sozio committed a deliberate and shocking act of hatred when he slashed a Muslim-American man, who continues to suffer from pain due to his injuries,” said District Attorney Bragg. “The devastating impact of this hate crime on the victim goes far beyond his physical injuries and I hope this sentence offers him a sense of justice. My office is laser-focused on holding individuals accountable who commit bias-motivated violence against Manhattan’s diverse communities.”
As proven at trial, on December 31, 2022, the 22-year-old man and his friends traveled to the City from New Jersey, visited a halal food cart near the southeast corner of East 29th Street and 5th Avenue, and ordered food. At approximately 2:00 a.m., while the group was waiting for the food, SOZIO approached and confronted them after one of the friends told SOZIO that they believed he dropped something. SOZIO cursed and made xenophobic remarks, stating in substance, “This is my country. Go back to your country.”
During the altercation, another one of the friends took out his phone to record the incident, which SOZIO slapped out of his hand. The man’s friend punched SOZIO in response. SOZIO then pulled out a knife from his pocket and started swinging it towards the group. Eventually, SOZIO slashed the victim’s torso – leaving a
large wound across his upper abdomen – which required stitches and surgery. The man’s friends were able to disarm SOZIO and call 9-1-1. Throughout the attack, SOZIO continued making racial remarks at the group, such as “terrorist” and “Halal motherf—s.”
Police officers arrested SOZIO on the scene a few minutes later and recovered the knife. While under arrest, SOZIO continued making racial comments and slurs about the group of men.
If you or someone you know has been a victim or witness to a hate crime or bias incident, please call 9-1-1 or report it to our Office at 212-335-3100.
Assistant D.A.s Reginald Greene and Miya Saint-Louis handled the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Constantine Coritsidis (Deputy Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit) and Hannah Yu (Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Supervising Rackets Investigator Thomas Lombardo, Senior Rackets Investigator Peter Salerno, former Investigative Analyst Carla Gutierrez (Trial Bureau 80), Trial Preparation Assistant Rebecca Raslowsky (Trial Bureau 80) and former Trial Preparation Assistant Tara Nouri (Trial Bureau 80), Hate Crimes Investigative Analyst Zoe Fleishaker, and former Hate Crime Senior Investigative Analyst Caitie Kang provided invaluable assistance.
D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly the Midtown South and 13th Precincts.
Defendant Information:
GINO SOZIO
Morganville, NJ
Convicted:
- Attempted Assault in the First Degree as a Hate Crime, a class B felony, one count
- Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, a class C felony, one count
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
Sentenced:
- 9 years in state prison, 5 years post-release supervision
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