COLUMBIA, S.C. – In a notable case underscoring the fight against racial discrimination, a South Carolina man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for infringing on the housing rights of his African-American neighbor.
As reported by the U.S. Department of Justice District of South Carolina, Jonathan Andrew Felkel, age 34, conceded during a preliminary plea hearing that on July 17th, 2025, he engaged in a racially charged confrontation. While driving into his community, where he and the victim, identified as J.M., resided, Felkel fired a gun and hurled the racially offensive threat, “You better keep running, boy!” as J.M. stood by the neighborhood gate.
The investigation revealed that Felkel confessed to authorities his biased assumptions. He stated he believed African-Americans were responsible for crimes in the area and mistakenly presumed J.M. to be a criminal solely due to his race, with the intention to intimidate him to “leave” and avoid the neighborhood entirely.
“Racially motivated violence will not be tolerated in South Carolina,” declared U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina, reflecting the seriousness with which the justice system regards such egregious acts.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division commented on the resolution of this case: “Today, we have served justice for Jonathan Andrew Felkel’s appalling, racially inspired assault on the victim. Hate crimes do not just impact individuals; they undermine the very fabric of our society. The Justice Department remains resolved to aggressively pursue such cases, aiming to restore safety and trust within our communities.”
The FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.