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Man faces federal hate crime charges after disrupting services at Central Synagogue By Aaron Katersky Tuesday, August 18, 2026 8:04PM Stream New York's #1 news - AccuWeather - original content 24/7 MIDTOWN (WABC) -- A Bronx man who disrupted Friday evening services at Central Synagogue last week was slapped on Tuesday with federal hate crimes charges.
Larry Montes, 46, previously faced state-level charges of criminal mischief as a hate crime and attempted assault as a hate crime after what police called a "random antisemitic attack."
In the complaint by the US Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York, Montes faces two counts of committing hate crimes and one count of damage to religious property resulting in injury.
Montes stood up during the service and approached the front yelling, "I am Hashem," a Jewish reference to God, according to police. He knocked over two candles and candle holders, causing them to break.
Police said Montes then struck a woman, cutting her lip and bruising her arm, and, when confronted by a security guard, headbutted him and uttered a racial slur.
Montes is being held on $10,000 bail following an appearance on a complaint drafted by the Manhattan district attorney's office. It was not immediately clear when he would appear before a federal magistrate.
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