Man Agrees to Plead Guilty in Nazi Graffiti Case

A 20-year-old man has agreed to plead guilty to violating the civil rights of an Egyptian man by painting swastikas and other Nazi symbols on his Granada Hills house, the U.S. attorney’s office said Wednesday.

Joshua Hass admitted spray-painting six large swastikas on the front of the house, along with Nazi lightning bolts and the letters “SFV” representing the San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods, a white supremacist gang.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Caroline Wittcoff said the home was owned by an Egyptian immigrant who was planning to rent it when the attack occurred Jan. 5, 1998.

The entire front of the single story house was covered with Nazi graffiti.

Hass, who lives in North Hills, said in a plea agreement filed Wednesday that he intended to intimidate the owner because of his national origin.

He was charged with interfering with his victim’s federally protected housing rights, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison. Hass is to be arraigned July 31.

Wittcoff said she could not confirm whether Hass actually belonged to the San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods or simply copied their markings.

But Hass’ lawyer, Jeffrey A. Vallens, said, “I don’t believe he ever was a member of that organization.”

He said Hass has cooperated with FBI agents since the start of their investigation and is now “anxious to put the matter behind him.”

A researcher at the Simon Wiesenthal Center said the Peckerwoods were founded as a prison gang and are heavily involved in the production and sale of methamphetamines on the outside. Many are drug users themselves, he said.

In 1998, Los Angeles police arrested about 20 suspected members in connection with a wave of Valley crimes, including the planting of fake bombs at 10 minority owned businesses.