Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Giselle DeJesus has been charged with assault as a hate crime and other charges for allegedly attacking a couple outside of their Rego Park home in front of their two children on November 6.

District Attorney Katz said, “Hate crimes are unacceptable. The defendant allegedly took part in a malicious assault that included physical violence and repugnant taunts of hatred. A family was terrorized because of their religious beliefs. Such bigotry will be confronted and prosecuted in Queens County.”

DeJesus, 35, of Woodhaven Boulevard, was arraigned today before Queens Criminal Court Judge Mary Bejarano on a complaint charging her with assault in the second degree as a hate crime, three counts of aggravated harassment in the second degree, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of disorderly conduct. If convicted, DeJesus faces up to 15 years in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that on November 6, 2020, the defendant and an unapprehended male allegedly approached a family in the rear parking area of their apartment building on Woodhaven Boulevard, where both the family and the defendant live. According to the complaint, DeJesus allegedly grabbed the woman’s hijab while yelling “f—— Muslim” at her. According to the charges, the defendant had previously harassed the woman and her children in the parking area of the building on September 27, 2020.

According to the complaint, on November 6th, the victim’s husband placed his arm between his wife and the defendant and asked them to leave his family alone. The unapprehended male then pushed his hands into the male victim’s face and chest, causing him to fall to the ground.

The DA said, while the victim was on the ground, DeJesus allegedly kicked him multiple times in the stomach and shouted obscenities, while the unapprehended male kicked him in his head and face and threatened to kill the entire family.

The defendant’s alleged accomplice remains at large.

The husband was later taken to a local hospital for multiple and extensive fractures to his nose and face, for which he had to undergo surgery.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Ronald York of the 112th Precinct.

Assistant District Attorney Michael E. Brovner, Chief of the Hate Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney of the Trial Division Pishoy Yacob.