JOHNSTOWN, PA—A resident of Centre
County, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of interfering
with housing, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Ryan M. Held, a/k/a Ryan M. Foley, 21,
of 133 Hemlock Street in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to two
counts before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, the
court was advised that on August 20, 2010, Held, by force and threat of force,
willfully intimidated and interfered with two minor victims, one of whom was an
African-American male, because of his race and because he was occupying a
dwelling; and one of whom was a female who was and had been lawfully allowing
such African-American male, a friend, to occupy the dwelling in which she
resided. During the afternoon of August 20, Held drove past the female victim’s
home in Woodland, Pennsylvania, and saw her socializing with a few friends, one
of whom was African-American. Just before midnight, Held returned to the
property and placed a cross in the front yard of the female victim,
approximately 60 feet from the entry to her home, and set it on fire for the
purpose of intimidating and interfering with her and her African-American
friend. Held spent a few minutes laying in the woods bordering the property
watching the cross burn and waiting to see if anyone emerged from the
residence.
“Every citizen has the right to be safe
in their own home, free from racial intolerance and intimidation,” said U.S.
Attorney Hickton. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute
criminals whose actions are driven by bigotry and hate.”
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for
February 7, 2013, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years
in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing
Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the
offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Judge Gibson revoked bond and ordered
Held detained pending the sentencing proceeding.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn
J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government, together with
Trial Attorney Roy Conn of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of
Justice.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Held.
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