NYC man sentenced for brutal 2021 anti-Semitic attack on Jewish victim in Manhattan

NEW YORK — A Staten Island man was sentenced to seven years in prison for a brutal anti-Semitic gang-style attack carried out in one of the city’s busiest areas.

Joseph Borgen was brutally beaten by a group of men in Times Square while addressing a pro-Israel rally in 2021. Mahmoud Musa was one of five men who allegedly attacked Borgen in a premeditated assault, shouting insults at him as they chased the man. Long Island Jew, according to prosecutors. A graphic video showed a group of people beating the then 29-year-old man in the middle of the street.

“They proceeded to assault me, hit me, kick me, hit me, hit me with crutches, hit me with flagpoles,” Borgen previously told NBC New York. He said that he had not even arrived at the protest, but instead he came out of a nearby subway station and was attacked and pepper-sprayed in the middle of the attack.

The judge handed down the harsh sentence on Tuesday, which was longer than requested by prosecutors. The judge added six months more prison time than recommended by the prosecutor.

Borgen’s family and supporters say the sentence sends a clear message: Hate crimes against Jews will not be tolerated. Borgen also seemed pleased with the result.

“I’m relieved it’s over. I think we received a strong prison sentence,” Borgen said.

The courtroom became a microcosm of the conflict ravaging the Middle East, as Musa’s family had to be removed at a time when the hearing became heated.

“I don’t think it would have been as controversial two months ago,” said Steven Fink, Borgen’s attorney.

On one side of the courtroom, members of the Jewish community wore Justice for Joey hats. On the other side were Musa’s family and friends.

Borgen explained to the court how the beating continues to affect him to this day: from battling post-traumatic stress disorder to surgeries to repair his damaged wrist.

Two years after the beating, Borgen said he still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder from what happened to him. He said she worries about his safety when she wears a kippah in public.

“I suffer pain every day,” Borgen said.

In the courtroom, Musa apologized to Borgen and the Jewish community for what he did. He also said that he hopes the war between Israel and Hamas will end soon so that both sides can coexist.

But Borgen didn’t believe it.

“Honestly, I don’t think there’s any remorse,” he said.

Tensions flared when Musa was escorted from the courtroom, and his family and supporters rose to express their support. Borgen said what happened made him “a little nervous, a little nervous.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement that Borgen “continues to suffer significant trauma and pain from this incident. No one should have to endure the type of cruel, hate-motivated attack he experienced, and I hope it continues.” healing and recovering.”

Borgen is also moving forward with a civil lawsuit against the attackers; Musa is the third of five defendants sentenced in the case. The other two remaining will be sentenced in December.