Guyanese man to get 20 years in jail for hate crimes against Muslims in NY

Ray Lengend, also known as Suraj Poonai, following his arrest in 2012. (New York Daily News photo)

Guyanese Ray Lengend, who fire-bombed mosques throughout southeast Queens, in New York, in 2012, will be sentenced this week for the crimes against Muslims, whom he had claimed were “trying to take over his life,” the TimesLedger newspaper has reported.

Lengend, 45, pleaded guilty to the crimes last week.

Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron is reported by Queens District Attorney Richard Brown as saying that he would sentence Lengend, who is also known as Suraj Poonai, to 20 years and five years post-release supervision for first-degree arson as a hate-crime when he returns to court this Thursday.