Hitler-Book Owner Pleads Guilty to Swastika Attack on Jewish Cemetery
Multiple graves had to be replaced following the incident in Maryland in 2023.
George Horn, 36, of Dundalk, has pleaded guilty to federal charges for vandalizing a Jewish cemetery in Maryland. Prosecutors confirmed that Horn, who targeted the Ohr Knesseth Israel Anshe Sfard Cemetery, painted swastikas and other symbols on multiple headstones. The incident occurred in July 2023, and Horn admitted to using spray paint to deface the gravestones.
Twelve defaced gravestones were discovered by caretakers days later, and multiple gravestones had to be replaced due to the residue of black spray paint. Horn had a copy of Mein Kampf on his phone and had antisemitic messages and items in a storage unit and his car. The cemetery was established in the late 19th century. Horn faces a maximum of three years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for January 14.
The incident occurred during a rise in antisemitic hate crimes across the U.S., with 8,873 antisemitic incidents recorded in 2023, a 140 percent increase from the previous year. Maryland ranked ninth in the top 10 states with the most antisemitic incidents in 2025, with 181 incidents reported.
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