A parolee with a long criminal history was apprehended on Thursday for attempting to rape and rob a woman in Downtown Brooklyn while posing as an immigration agent. Leon Howell, 43, who had been released on parole just last month for the 2017 strangulation of a stranger, now faces charges of first-degree rape, first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, third-degree burglary, and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
The incident took place on Tuesday morning when Howell approached a 51-year-old woman in the lobby of a building at Montague and Henry Streets, claiming to be an immigration officer. He then forced her into an elevator and down to the basement, where he proceeded to punch her in the face and assault her. Despite the victim’s pleas, Howell continued his heinous actions, stealing her belongings before fleeing the scene.
Thanks to the victim’s Find my iPhone app, authorities were able to track down Howell and bring him into custody. The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries and is currently in stable condition. Investigators suspect that the attack may have been motivated by the victim’s ethnicity or race.
Howell’s extensive criminal record includes 20 prior arrests, with one incident involving the assault of another inmate while he was incarcerated on Rikers Island in 2018. In 2017, he was arrested for strangling a female stranger in a random attack in a Brooklyn public bathroom. He was sentenced to seven years in state prison for that crime and was released on parole in January of this year. His parole is set to expire in 2029.
This disturbing incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with a history of violent behavior and the importance of ensuring that they are held accountable for their actions. It also highlights the bravery and resilience of the victim in the face of such a traumatic experience.
