Duval County Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Federal Hate Crimes Against Black Women

The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that a Duval County man has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for two federal hate crimes in the 2022 attacks on two Black women with a gun. Frederick Eugene Pierallini III pleaded guilty to the racially motivated attacks back in July, and now faces the consequences of his actions.

The first incident occurred on Sept. 10, 2022, when Pierallini entered a convenience store in Jacksonville and targeted a clerk behind the register. After his card was declined for snacks he had taken, Pierallini became verbally abusive, using racial slurs towards the clerk. The situation escalated when he retrieved a shotgun from his car and pointed it at the victim, causing her to flee in fear.

Just two days later, on Sept. 22, Pierallini approached a second victim in the Lakewood neighborhood, threatening her with racial slurs and a shotgun. He fired a single shot, fortunately not injuring the victim. These heinous acts led to the lockdown of two preschools in the area as police searched for the suspect.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division condemned Pierallini’s actions, stating that no one should live in fear of racially motivated violence. The Justice Department is committed to protecting Black individuals from such acts of hate and will continue to prosecute those who threaten or commit unlawful acts.

Pierallini’s reckless behavior not only resulted in the terrorizing of innocent victims but also put the community at risk. His sentencing serves as a reminder that hate crimes will not be tolerated, and those who perpetrate them will face the full consequences of their actions.