Prison sentence for Tampa man who threatened to burn down Muslim family's home

David H. Howard will go to prison for threatening a Muslim family.

THE ASGAR FAMILY was giving the house they planned to buy a final look when a man approached and began threatening them.

"This sale will not take place," he said, according to court documents. "I will break all of your f------ windows and I will burn your f------ house down."

The man turned out to live a couple houses from the Asgar family's intended home. David H. Howard, 59, of Tampa, Florida, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Mary S. Scriven to serve eight months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and required to pay the Asgar's $30,000 in restitution. 

Because of that verbal attack, Kaderbhai Ali Asgar, an Indian American, changed their mind  and cancelled the purchase of the home and lost their $30,000 down payment.

According to court documents, in the days that followed, Howard retold his version of the incident to neighbors, making insulting remarks about Muslims.

“This Justice Department will not stand by when individuals use violence and intimidation to deny fair housing rights,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to prosecute crimes like this one that deprive families of a safe place to live.”

“Today’s sentence should send a clear message that we will vigorously uphold our nation’s civil rights laws,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “Crimes perpetrated against people because of who they are or what they believe simply cannot be tolerated.”

A civil case that arose from the incident is still pending in Hillsborough Circuit Court.

Howard pleaded guilty last February. In his deposition for that case, Howard said that he lost a family member in 9/11 and "wasn’t crazy about Muslims."

In his plea to the judge, he said that he has AIDS and his medication may have affected his actions.

The judge asked that he be sent to a federal prison in Butner, N.C., that treats inmates with serious medical conditions.

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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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