New Jersey Man Sentenced to Six Months for Vehicle Ramming at Chabad Headquarters in Brooklyn

A Brooklyn federal court judge on Wednesday sentenced Dan Sohail, 36, of New Jersey, to six months and one week in prison for deliberately driving his vehicle into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters. Sohail was also ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution for the January 28 incident. With time already served in custody, he is expected to be released within approximately one week.

Sohail pleaded guilty in May to intentionally damaging religious property. On the day of the attack, he repeatedly rammed his car into the building’s side entrance after removing protective barriers, striking the door five times and tearing it from its hinges while destroying his vehicle’s front bumper. No one was injured during the incident.

Federal prosecutors had requested a 14-month sentence, arguing the longer term would serve as a deterrent against future attacks on Jewish institutions amid rising antisemitic incidents in New York City. However, Judge Eric N. Vitaliano declined the recommendation, expressing concern that the government’s sentencing push was influenced by the initial public perception of the attack as a hate crime.

Defense attorney Mia Eisner-Grynberg presented evidence that Sohail struggled with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from childhood trauma. She characterized the ramming as “an irrational cry for help” from someone who had sought community and acceptance at the Chabad institution, where he had previously attended services and engaged with rabbinical students.