Man who rammed car into NYC’s Chabad headquarters sentenced to time served

Dan Sohail, who rammed his car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn in January 2026, was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to damaging religious property. The judge cited mental health issues and no hatred toward Jews, ordering $19,000 restitution. Sohail was incarcerated for six months and will be released next week.

Dan Sohail, 36, who repeatedly rammed his car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn on January 28, 2026, was sentenced on Wednesday to time served. He pleaded guilty to damaging religious property in May. Initially charged with a hate crime, investigators later found he was seeking to connect with his Jewish heritage and had mental health problems. The judge, Eric Vitaliano, said Sohail needed mental health treatment and did not exhibit hatred toward Jews. Sohail was incarcerated for six months and will be released next week. Vitaliano ordered $19,000 in restitution and criticized the Department of Justice for seeking a harsher sentence. Defense attorney Mia Eisner-Grynberg said Sohail was battling depression and PTSD after a traumatizing childhood and had attended Chabad events before the attack. The crash occurred on the 75th anniversary of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson becoming leader of the Lubavitch movement.