WEST NEW YORK, N.J. (TCD) — A 30-year-old man faces federal charges after allegedly posing as a nurse online and kidnapping, abusing, stalking, and threatening at least four women across state lines.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced Monday, Dec. 11, that a grand jury indicted Herman Brightman, also known as “Nazir Griffiths” and “Nazir Luckett,” on one count of kidnapping a minor, one count of threatening physical harm by interstate communication, one count of cyberstalking, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of travel in interstate commerce to commit a crime of violence, and one count of travel in interstate commerce to stalk.
Prosecutors allege Brightman posed as a nurse or nurse practitioner working in New York City on Facebook and Hinge to meet women between January 2022 and September 2023. He reportedly sent photos and videos of himself wearing nurse scrubs and lab coats through the social media platforms.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Brightman dated some of the women he met online and would “act violently towards them, particularly if they attempted to end the relationship.” Prosecutors said he allegedly “brutalized” four women.
Around July 2022, one female tried to break up with Brightman. Brightman reportedly traveled from New Jersey to New York and kidnapped the woman and her minor child at knifepoint and brought them to his home in New Jersey, where he threatened to kill the woman if she “made any problems.” During the threats, Brightman allegedly held onto her “for an entire evening to prevent her from escaping.”
The woman eventually convinced Brightman to let her leave his home temporarily, and she escaped the next morning and contacted police.
In another incident, Brightman allegedly “brutally attacked” a second female victim he was dating around August of this year in her home. He also held her at knifepoint, the U.S. Attorney’s office said. Prosecutors allege he threatened to “gut” her “like a fish.”
Brightman reportedly tied the second female victim’s hands and tried to tape her mouth. The woman broke up with Brightman around one week after the incident, the U.S. attorney’s office said. Brightman then called her over 20 times, even on a private blocked number, and threatened her.
The next month, prosecutors said Brightman traveled from New Jersey to the Bronx, where he “used his phone to lure a third woman he was dating to his car.” In his car, Brightman allegedly ordered the third woman to call the second victim and then punched her, causing a bruise.
The third woman reportedly fled the vehicle, and Brightman allegedly ran after her and then “put her in a chokehold.” The third female victim eventually got out of her building and contacted police.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Brightman went back to the Bronx and confronted the third female victim at her job a few days later. Brightman reportedly questioned the third female victim, asking if she called police. He later followed her home and pushed her, causing her to fall. Brightman also allegedly threw a traffic cone toward her.
In a fourth incident, prosecutors allege Brightman went to the Bronx around September of this year to confront another woman who broke up with him. He reportedly convinced her to allow him into her home, where he assaulted and strangled the woman, causing bruising to her neck. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Brightman tried to rape the fourth victim and threatened to kill her. With the help of a friend, the fourth female safely escaped her home.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement, “Today’s charges put a stop to this abusive and violent behavior. We thank and commend the courageous women who came forward to report Brightman.”
Brightman’s charges carry various sentences, but he faces a maximum term of life in prison if convicted of kidnapping a minor alone.
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