A New Jersey man has been charged with kidnapping, interstate travel to commit domestic violence, interstate communication of a threat, cyberstalking, and interstate stalking of multiple women, including two women from The Bronx, federal prosecutors said on Monday, Dec. 11.

 

Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and New York Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban announced on Monday that a grand jury in Manhattan federal court had returned an 8-count indictment charging New Jersey resident Herman Calvin Brightman a/k/a “Nazir Griffiths,” a/k/a “Nazir Luckett,” whose case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Cronan, in relation to the case.

 

In the context of the announcement, Williams said, “As alleged, for over a year, Herman Brightman preyed upon woman after woman using the internet to lure these women into meeting and dating him, and posing as a nurse, or nurse practitioner, to gain their trust. He then quickly became physically abusive towards them, going so far as to kidnap the women at knifepoint and threaten to kill them.  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.”

 

According to the allegations in the indictment unsealed on Monday, from between in or about January 2022 to in or about September 2023, Brightman allegedly used social media platforms such as Facebook and the dating application, Hinge, to meet, and occasionally date, several women under false pretenses. Specifically, federal prosecutors said Brightman often allegedly used an alias and allegedly posed as a nurse or nurse practitioner working at New York City-area hospitals, even sending pictures and videos of himself wearing scrubs and lab coats, and allegedly creating false IDs for himself.

 

Shortly after he began dating his victims, Brightman allegedly began to act violently towards them, particularly if they attempted to end the relationship. As set forth in the indictment, between January 2022 and September 2023, Brightman allegedly brutalized at least four such women.

 

In or about July 2022, federal prosecutors said Brightman allegedly traveled from New Jersey to the Southern District of New York and, at knifepoint, forced a woman (“Victim 1”) who had recently decided to break up with him and her minor child (“Minor Victim 1”) to travel from the Southern District of New York to Brightman’s home in New Jersey.

 

They said once they arrived at his home, Brightman allegedly threatened to kill Victim 1 if she “made any problems” and, is was alleged, literally held onto Victim 1 for an entire evening to prevent her from escaping. They said Victim 1 eventually escaped the next morning and was able to contact local police after she convinced Brightman to let her leave his home temporarily.

 

In or about August 2023, federal prosecutors said Brightman allegedly brutally attacked a Queens woman he had been dating (“Victim 2”) in her home and allegedly held her at knifepoint. They said during the attack, he allegedly threatened to “gut” Victim 2 “like a fish.” They said he also allegedly bound Victim 2’s hands and attempted to tape her mouth.

 

They said that around a week after this incident, Victim 2 ended her relationship with Brightman, and that in the 24 hours that followed, he allegedly called Victim 2 over 20 times, including from private blocked numbers. They said that on one particular phone call, Brightman allegedly repeatedly threatened Victim 2.

 

According to federal prosecutors, in or about early September 2023, Brightman allegedly traveled from New Jersey to The Bronx and allegedly used his phone to lure a third woman he was dating (“Victim 3”) to his car. They said that while in his car, Brightman allegedly forced Victim 3 to call Victim 2. They said Brightman then allegedly punched Victim 3, leaving a bruise on her arm and that when Victim 3 attempted to escape, Brightman allegedly chased after her, and allegedly put her in a chokehold. They said Victim 3 escaped into her building and called the police.

 

They said a few days later, Brightman returned to The Bronx to allegedly confront Victim 3 at her job. They said during the confrontation, Brightman, it was alleged, repeatedly asked Victim 3 if she had contacted the police. They said Brightman then allegedly followed Victim 3 home where he allegedly assaulted her again, allegedly pushing her to the ground and throwing a traffic cone at her.

 

They went on to say that in or about late September 2023, Brightman allegedly traveled to The Bronx and convinced a fourth woman (“Victim 4”), who had previously ended their relationship, to allow him into her home. They said inside Victim 4’s home, Brightman allegedly assaulted and strangled her, leaving her with bruising on her neck. It was also alleged that Brightman also repeatedly threatened to kill and rape Victim 4. Victim 4 was ultimately able to escape with the help of a friend, they said.

 

For his part, Caban said of the case, “The men and women of the NYPD condemn these deeply disturbing and heinous acts allegedly committed by a serial predator. Across jurisdictional boundaries, we and our law enforcement partners take all accusations of abuse seriously and remain dedicated to ensuring justice for the victims.”

 

Brightman, 30, of West New York, New Jersey, is charged with three counts of kidnapping, which each carry a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of threatening physical harm by interstate communication, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

 

He is further charged with one count of cyberstalking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; two counts of travel in interstate commerce to commit a crime of violence, which each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of travel in interstate commerce to stalk; which carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison.

 

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided for informational purposes only. Any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

 

Williams praised what he said was the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD, task force officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and the complex analytics and social media enhancement team at the New York/New Jersey High intensity drug trafficking areas office for their work on the investigation. He also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the Queens District Attorney’s Office, and the Ocean County District Attorney’s Office in New Jersey for their assistance in the investigation.

 

The case is being prosecuted by the federal prosecutor office’s violent & organized crime unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Moroney and Ni Qian are in charge of the prosecution.

 

The defendant  is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

Federal prosecutors are asking any additional victims of Brightman or anyone who may have any additional information about his alleged illegal behavior to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York at 1-866-874-8900 and reference this case.