According to federal officials, a man used fake identities as a nurse on social media and dating apps to deceive four women into romantic relationships before kidnapping, assaulting, and harassing them.
Herman Brightman, 30, of New Jersey, was indicted on eight counts, including kidnapping, interstate travel to commit domestic violence, interstate communication of a threat, cyberstalking, and interstate stalking, according to a news release from the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York on Dec 11.
Officials stated that Brightman used the aliases “Nazir Griffiths” and “Nazir Luckett” while posing as a nurse in the New York City area, wearing scrubs, lab coats, and fake IDs in photos and videos posted on Facebook and Hinge.
Court documents reveal that from January 2022 to September 2023, Brightman deceived and mistreated at least four women under false pretences.
US Attorney Damian Williams condemned Brightman’s actions, stating, “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.”
Brightman is accused of kidnapping a victim and her two-year-old child at knifepoint, binding, gagging, and threatening to “gut” a second victim, physically abusing and stalking a third victim, and assaulting and holding a fourth victim hostage, according to court documents.
Court records also show that Brightman used physical violence, stalking, and threats to prevent victims from contacting the police.
However, some of Brightman’s victims were able to escape and alert the authorities, according to court records.
According to bail documents from Dec 11, Brightman was detained and deemed a flight risk and a danger.
There was no immediate response from Brightman’s defence attorney to a request for comment from McClatchy News on Dec 12. – The Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service
