FILED

U.S. DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENN.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
NTASHVILLE DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

)

CHRISTOPHER BECKHAM

L Z6~~

DEP CLERK

)
NO.

V.

APR 04 2018

3: 1 F -0007,5
18 U.S.C. § 249(a)(2)
18 U.S.C. § 1001

)

INDICTMENT
COUNT ONE
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:
On or about October 24, 2017, in the Middle District of Tennessee, the defendant,
CHRISTOPHER BECKHAM, willfully caused bodily injury to A.A. by attacking A.A., and used
a dangerous weapon that had traveled in interstate commerce in a willful attempt to cause bodily
injury to A.A., because of the actual and perceived religion and national origin of A.A., A.H. and
F.H., namely that he perceived A.A., A.H. and F.H. to be Muslim and of a nationality other than
American. Specifically, defendant saw A.H. and F.H., two teenage girls who were wearing hijabs,
and said "Allahu Akbar!" and "Go back to your country!"; defendant then attacked A.A., the girls'
father, by swinging a knife and punching at A.A., and defendant farther called A.A., A.H. and
F.H."Iranis" and "niggers."
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 249(a)(2).

Case 3:18-cr-00075 Document 3 Filed 04/04/18 Page 1 of 2 PageID #: 3

 COUNT TWO

THE GRAND JURY FURTHER CHARGES:
On or about March 12, 2018, in the Middle District of Tennessee, the defendant,
CHRISTOPHER BECKffAM, knowingly and willfully made materially false statements and
representations in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"),
an agency of the United States. Specifically, regarding the incident on October 24, 2017 as set out
in Count One, the defendant talked to FBI Special Agents and: (1) falsely claimed that he saw A.H.
and F.H. trying to break into cars; (2) falsely claimed that he never swung a knife at A.A.; (3) falsely
claimed that, after defendant pulled out a knife, teenage girls A.H. and F.H. yelled "Allahu Akbar!,"
and then either A.H., F.H., or both hit him on the back of the head. In truth and in fact, as defendant
then well knew, his statements to the FBI were false, in that, on October 24, 2017: (1) A.H. and
F.H. never tried to break into cars; (2) defendant swung his knife at A.A.; (3) A.H. and F.H. never
yelled "Allahu Akbar!," and neither A.H. nor F.H. ever attacked or struck defendant.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.
A TRUE BILL:

~1
GRAND JUR REPE ON
DONALD Q. COCHRA
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
SARA BETH MYERS
ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
RACHEL KINCAID
CHRISTINE SISCARETTI
TRIAL ATTORNEYS
2

Case 3:18-cr-00075 Document 3 Filed 04/04/18 Page 2 of 2 PageID #: 4

 CRIMINAL COVER SHEET
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
NASHVILLE
DIVISION
Petty Offense
Misdemeanor
Felony
Juvenile

( )
( )
(x)
(1

County of Offense:

Davidson

AUSA's NAME:

Sara Beth Myers

CHRISTOPHER BECKHAM
Defendant's Full Name
Interpreter Needed?

Yes x

No

Defendant's Address
If Yes, what language?

Somali (trial)

Andrew Brandon
Defendant's Attorney

COUNT(S)

TITLE/SECTION

OFFENSE CHARGED

MAX. PRISON

MAX. FINE

1

18 U.S.C.§§
249 a 2

Hate Crime Act

10 years

$250,000.00

II

18 U.S.C.§§

False statement to federal agent

5 years

$250,000.00

1001

IE

=1

__1

~F_

If the defendant is charged with consnirar_v Hut not with the nrimary nffPncP_ list tha nrimary nffanca halnw-

TITLE/SECTION

OFFENSE

Is the defendant currently in custody?

Yes

()

MAX. PRISON

No

(X)

Has a complaint been filed?
Yes
()
No
If Yes: Name of the Magistrate Judge
Was the defendant arrested on the complaint?

(x)

Has a search warrant been issued?
Yes
If Yes: Name of the Magistrate Judge

()

(x)

Was bond set by Magistrate/District Judge? Yes

()

Is this a Rule 20? Yes () No (x)
Is this a Rule 40? Yes () No (x)

If yes, State or Federal?

Yes

Case No.:
()
No

( )

Case No.:
No

(x)

Amount of bond:

To/from what district?
To/from what district?

Is this case related to a pending or previously filed case:
What is the related case number?
Who is the Magistrate Judge?
Estimated trial time:

No

MAX. FINE

Yes ( )

No (x)

3 days

The Clerk will issue a Summons/Warrant

(circle one)

Bond Recommendation:

Case 3:18-cr-00075 Document 3-1 Filed 04/04/18 Page 1 of 1 PageID #: 5