A West New York man who posed as a nurse on Facebook and Hinge is charged with kidnapping and abusing four women, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damien Williams announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Herman Brightman, also known as “Nazir Griffiths” and “Nazir Luckett,” 30, of West New York, is charged with interstate travel to commit domestic violence, interstate communication of a threat, cyberstalking, and interstate stalking.
“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,” Williams said in a statement.
“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.”
From between in or about January 2022 to in or about September 2023, Brightman used social media platforms such as Facebook and the dating application Hinge to meet, and occasionally date, several women under false pretenses, the eight-count federal indictment says.
Specifically, Brightman, often used an alias and 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 creating false IDs for himself.
Shortly after he began dating his victims, Brightman 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 brutalized at least four such women.
In or about July 2022, Brightman traveled from New Jersey to the Southern District of New York and forced at knifepoint a woman who had recently decided to break up with him and her minor child to travel from the Southern District of New York to Brightman’s home.
Once they arrived at his residence, he threatened to kill Victim-1 if she “made any problems” and literally held onto Victim-1 for an entire evening to prevent her from escaping.
Victim-1 eventually did escape the next morning and was able to contact local police after she convinced Brightman to let her leave his residence temporarily.
In or about August 2023, Brightman brutally attacked a Queens woman he had been dating (“Victim-2”) in her home and held her at knifepoint.
During the attack, He threatened to “gut” Victim-2 “like a fish.” Brightman also bound Victim-2’s hands and attempted to tape Victim-2’s mouth. Approximately one week after this incident, Victim-2 ended the relationship.
In the 24 hours that followed, Brightman called Victim-2 over 20 times, including from private blocked numbers. On one particular phone call, he repeatedly threatened Victim-2.
In or about early September 2023, Brightman traveled from New Jersey to the Bronx and used his phone to lure a third woman he was dating (“Victim-3”) to his car.
While in his car, Brightman forced Victim-3 to call Victim-2. He then punched Victim-3, leaving a bruise on her arm. When Victim-3 attempted to escape, Brightman chased after her and put her in a choke hold. Victim-3 escaped into her building and called the police.
A few days later, he returned to the Bronx to confront Victim-3 at her job. During the confrontation, Brightman repeatedly asked Victim-3 if she had contacted the police.
He then followed Victim-3 home and assaulted her again, pushing Victim-3 to the ground and throwing a traffic cone at her.
In or about late September 2023, Brightman traveled to the Bronx and convinced a fourth woman (“Victim-4”), who had previously ended their relationship, to allow him into her home.
Inside Victim-4’s home, he assaulted and strangled her, leaving her with bruising on her neck. Brightman also repeatedly threatened to kill Victim-4 and attempted to rape her. Victim-4 was ultimately able to escape with the help of a friend.
If convicted on all counts, Brightman faces a maximum sentence of 85 years in prison.
Additionally, the Guttenberg Police Department arrested Brightman in September after eluding officers during a traffic stop.
Anyone who has been victimized or who has any additional information about Brightman’s alleged illegal behavior, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York at 1-866-874-8900 and reference this case.
