Hate-crime charges in attack by N.J. skinheads

Two New Jersey white supremacists accused of attacking men of Egyptian descent on New Year's Eve were charged Tuesday with hate crimes, federal prosecutors said.

Christopher Ising and Michal Gunar are believed to be members of racist groups, authorities said. In an indictment, prosecutors allege that Ising, 31, of Waretown, Ocean County, belonged to the Atlantic City Skins and that Gunar, 27, of Cranbury, Middlesex County, is a member of the Aryan Terror Brigade.

On Dec. 31, 2011, Ising, who lived in East Brunswick at the time, threw a party at his home where he discussed plans to assault non-Caucasians with Gunar and others, the indictment said.

At a Sayreville apartment complex, the indictment said, the skinheads found their prey in a parking lot. Ising, carrying brass knuckles, and Gunar, brandishing a knife, set upon a man identified as M.H., the indictment said. When a friend of the victim, R.M., rushed to his aid, the skinheads attacked him while shouting anti-Arab slurs, according to the indictment.

If convicted of hate crimes, Ising and Gunar face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.