TOWN OF UNION, NY — A man is facing multiple hate crime charges following an investigation into years of racial harassment.
The Broome County Sheriff’s Office began investigating a series of harassment incidents in May after hearing from victims residing in the area of Country Club Road in the Town of Union.
Robert T. Sanfelice, 60, of the Town of Union, had allegedly been harassing a neighborhood family because of their race and ethnic origin since 2020.
In the last two years, Sanfelice had made numerous disparaging racial comments, slurs and threats to the victims, telling them to return to their home country and making statements about retrieving a firearm when viewing the family outside, according to authorities.
He would reportedly throw food in the yard of the victims, claiming they could use it in their home country.
Between 2024 and 2025, Sanfelice on numerous occasions followed one of the victims in his car to instill fear, authorities said.
Sanfelice was charged with three counts of harassment in the first degree as a hate crime, stalking in the fourth degree as a hate crime, and two counts of harassment in the second degree.
Sheriff Fred Akshar said the family documented years of abuse but was too fearful to come forward until May.
Sanfelice was taken to Central Arraignment where he was released on his own recognizance to appear in the Town of Union Court at a later date.
