MckourageIn the violent assault and throwing of racist obscenities at a Black man last November, two Florida males were charged with federal hate crimes on Friday.
A grand jury indicted Roy Lashley, 55, and Robert Lashley, 52, according to a news statement from the US Justice Department on Friday.
For the November 17 attack on a Black man in the parking lot of a Family Dollar store in Citrus County, the two had previously been charged with assault and battery under state law.
According to arrest papers, the victim — identified only by his initials D.B. — was walking out from the Family Dollar shop when someone started hurling racist comments. According to investigators, Robert Lashley came up to D.B. and started punching him in the face.
As D.B. lay on the ground, Roy Lashley reportedly hit him multiple times with an ax handle. According to the arrest documents, Roy Lashley also got into an altercation with arresting deputies, which resulted in charges of resisting law enforcement.
Neither guy has a counsel listed in federal court records. It’s unclear how or if they’re connected.
Both Lashleys face a potential sentence of ten years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
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