Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Vandalizing Jewish Cemetery

Baltimore, Maryland - A Maryland man pled guilty to religious vandalism charges, in federal court, today, stemming from an incident in which he defaced several headstones, at a Baltimore County Jewish cemetery, with antisemitic symbols.

George Horn, 36, of Dundalk, pled guilty to damaging religious property after he painted swastikas and other symbols on multiple headstones at the Ohr Knesseth Israel Anshe Sfard Cemetery. Horn admitted that he targeted the cemetery because it is a Jewish cemetery.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).

According to his guilty plea, in July 2023, Horn entered the cemetery and used black spray paint to deface multiple gravestones, primarily with swastikas. Days later, cemetery caretakers discovered 12 gravestones spraypainted with swastikas and other symbols. Despite the caretakers' efforts, black spray paint residue in the outline of a swastika remained on some of the gravestones necessitating replacements.

The Ohr Knesseth Israel Anshe Sfard Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery, established in the late 19th century, that is in Dundalk. Evidence shows that Horn had antisemitic animus toward Jewish people. Investigators uncovered antisemitic messages along with other items in his car and storage unit. Items included a journal with references to Naziism and white supremacy, along with a nine-second video of Horn spray-painting two gravestones, and a translated copy of Adolf Hitler's autobiographical manifesto, Mein Kampf, on his phone.

Horn faces a maximum of three years in prison for damage to religious property. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox set sentencing for Thursday, Jan. 14, 2027, at 3 p.m.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, BCPD, and BPD, for their work in the investigation, along with the Anti-Defamation League, for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who is prosecuting this case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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