Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Tyrone Wise, 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Timothy J. Savage to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release for setting fire to a West Philadelphia building.
In September, Wise pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce.
He admitted that, on May 31, 2020, at about 8:49 p.m., amid both lawful protests and unlawful civil disturbances occurring in Philadelphia, he intentionally set fire to the SunRay Drugs Pharmacy located on the first floor of 25 South 60th Street in West Philadelphia.
The blaze caused extensive fire, water, and smoke damage to the pharmacy on the first floor and throughout the remainder of the building, which included a basement, and apartments on the second and third floors. The fire resulted in $1.2 million in damage and caused the SunRay Drugs at that location to close.
“Tyrone Wise’s actions were incredibly dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “He set this fire with no regard for the two apartments upstairs and any people who might be in them, the potential for the flames to spread to adjacent buildings, or the risks to first responders who would have to fight the blaze. Arson threatens lives and communities, and my office will continue to work with our investigative partners to prosecute these offenders and hold them fully accountable.”
“Tyrone Wise took advantage of the lawlessness of the moment to torch this drug store and extensively damage people’s apartments for no reason,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Arson not only hurts our communities with property damage, but also wrecks opportunity and puts people in danger of injury and death. In cooperation with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to track down and prosecute arsonists in Philadelphia for the safety and prosperity of our city.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Jayne.