The FBI began investigating what we now call hate crimes as far back as World War I, when the Ku Klux Klan first attracted our attention.
If he is charged with a hate crime he could even face death penalty for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin (a 17year old african american child).
FBI will need to prove that Zimmerman’s motives were the hate for African Americans. The next court appearance is on 8th of August.