Former California Rideshare Driver from Northern District Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Anti-Semitic Attack on Passenger

A former rideshare driver from Daly City, California, was arrested on March 13, 2024, for assaulting a rider on Oct. 26, 2023, because he believed the rider to be Jewish or Israeli. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized that hate-fueled violence motivated by antisemitism or bias will be aggressively prosecuted by the Justice Department. U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey stated that individuals should be able to use public transportation without fear of being targeted due to their nationality or religion.

The indictment, unsealed in March, revealed that Csaba John Csukás, 39, allegedly struck the victim in the face at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) because he perceived the victim to be Jewish or Israeli. Csukás, who worked as a driver for a rideshare company, asked the victim about their Jewish or Israeli identity, refused to transport them, and then physically attacked them by punching them in the face. This unprovoked assault was described as senseless and brutal by the SAC of the San Francisco FBI Field Office, Robert Tripp.

Csukás appeared in court to face charges of committing a federal hate crime, which involves causing bodily harm based on a person’s religion or national origin in a way that affects interstate commerce. The maximum penalty for this hate crime charge is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted, the sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, along with U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp of the FBI San Francisco Field Office, announced the charges against Csukás. The FBI San Francisco Field Office conducted the investigation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California’s Special Prosecutions Section is responsible for prosecuting the case. Ultimately, the goal is to bring justice for victims of bias-motivated crimes and to ensure that individuals can use public transportation without fear of discrimination or violence.