Photo Courtesy of Google
The defendant allegedly drew a swastika in black marker on a sign on the front of the Rego Park Jewish Center on Queens Boulevard.
By Forum Staff
A Forest Hills man has been charged with defacing the Rego Park Jewish Center with a swastika and for writing graffiti at multiple other locations in the area in February, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Friday.
Ramtin Rabenou, 41, was arraigned Friday on a complaint charging him with criminal mischief in the fourth degree as a hate crime, aggravated harassment in the first degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, and making graffiti. Rabenou was ordered to return to court on April 30.
According to the charges, around 11 a.m. on Feb. 17, Rabenou allegedly used a black marker to draw a swastika on a sign on the front of the Rego Park Jewish Center on Queens Boulevard. Later that day, the center’s rabbi, Romiel Daniel, discovered the defaced sign.
Graffiti was also discovered on street lamps, emergency response boxes, and traffic devices on and near 67th Road and 68th Avenue. Surveillance video and photographs obtained from these areas, as well as the Rego Park Jewish Center, depicted an individual tagging these locations. Rabenou was questioned by police and shown the video images; he allegedly identified himself in the footage.
“Targeting people because of their religion has no place anywhere—certainly not in Queens, the most diverse county in the country,” Katz added.
Rabenou faces up to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison if convicted.
