Attorney Gross’ Client Acquitted of Hate Crime Charges

The Law Offices of Scott Gross, P.C. is pleased with the result we were able to obtain on behalf of a client. Our client, Scott G., is a former police sergeant who was facing more than 20 hate-crime charges after being accused of targeting and stealing from Hispanic motorists.

While he was convicted of larceny charges and misdemeanor official misconduct (caught on tape in a sting operation), our firm was able to help exonerate Scott on six counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree as a hate crime. As a result, our client will avoid up to 19 years in prison, among other penalties.

A Crime of Greed, Not Hate

A videotape from a 2014 undercover sting operation showed our client stealing $100, and Attorney Gross addressed this at the very beginning of the trial. He was accused, however, not just of stealing money, but of targeting Hispanic motorists for this purpose.

As the case proceeded, however, the actions of a Latino advocacy group called “Make the Road New York” were somewhat suspect. Prosecutors had met with the group to help identify other victims, but the manner in which they did this violated court procedures. Attorney Gross argued his case, and Justice Fernando Camacho agreed that we had the right to question those who were accusing our client.

Take Control of Your Defense With Our Help

While the undercover sting operation found clear evidence that our client was guilty of the theft, the accusations of racial targeting were likely driven by other financial motivations. Our client will be sentenced on February 16 to between one and four years in prison, a far cry from the seven to twenty years he would be facing if the hate-crime charges stuck.

This case serves as a reminder that people will often be accused of much more serious crimes than they committed, if they even committed a crime at all. For this reason, it is imperative to retain a tough, trial-tested Long Island criminal defense attorney who can fight for your rights and future.