Tampa man pleads guilty, threatened to burn home bought by Muslim family

A Muslim family decided not to move into this Tampa house after being threatened by a neighbor.

A MAN, who threatened to burn down a home a Muslim family was about to buy, pleaded guilty to the hate crime.

David H. Howard, 59, of Tampa, Florida, intimidated and interfered with the victims, who sought to purchase a home in the Davis Islands neighborhood of Tampa, Florida, by threatening to burn down the home, simply because it was being bought by a Muslim family. 

Howard pleaded guilty Feb. 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, to one count of threatening, intimidating, and interfering with a Muslim family’s enjoyment of their housing rights, in violation of Title 42 U.S.C. § 3631. 

A sentencing date has not yet been set. Howard faces a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000.

Kaderbhai and Sehera Ali Asgar and the wife’s elderly parents arrived the morning of Nov. 3, 2016, for a final walk-through at the property located in the pricey neighborhood, according to court documents.

Howard, who lives in the neighborhood, approached Kaderbhal Asgar and the seller, Herb Donica, according the plea agreement and the accompanying realtors, and yelled, “This sale will not take place!” 

He declared, "This sale will not take place. I will break all of your f------ windows and I will burn your f------ house down."

the Asgars hurried away from the house and cancelled the closing of the home purchase that was scheduled to take place the next day. 

“Individuals and families should have the right to live wherever they choose, without intimidation or fear,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida. “Crimes perpetrated against people because of their race, ethnicity, color, or religious beliefs simply cannot be tolerated. And, we will prosecute those who commit these crimes to the fullest extent possible.”

“Hate motivated crimes are not only an attack on the victim, but are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community," said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Eric W. Sporre.
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