Jersey City Couple Convicted Of Bias Crime For Anti-Muslim Comments

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A Hudson County jury found a Jersey City couple guilty Tuesday of bias intimidation for threatening a neighbor on various dates between 2016 and 2018, the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office said.

William Ong, 76, and Beverly Ong, 73, were each convicted of bias intimidation, a crime of the fourth degree.

The verdict came after a two-day trial before Judge Vincent J. Militello.

William Ong was found not guilty of terroristic threats, the Prosecutor's Office said.

"The investigation determined that William and Beverly Ong made threatening and harassing statements to a neighbor, who they believed to be Muslim, about his religion on multiple occasions between 2016 and 2018," the Prosecutor's Office said in a release.

“Hudson County is one of the most diverse communities in the country and there is no place for hate or discrimination here, or anywhere,” said Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez. “The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to prosecuting anyone responsible for bias crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Ongs are scheduled to be sentenced on June 7.

Anyone who believes they are the victim of a bias crime is encouraged to contact the Hudson
County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 201-915-1234.

The state was represented at trial by Assistant Prosecutor John Burke.

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