A McAllen resident, Daniel Eduardo Rivera, aged 36, has been charged with arson and possession of a destructive device. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the charges. Rivera is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker.
The criminal complaint alleges that Rivera has been targeting an individual since 2022 by setting fires to the victim's residence and vehicles. The complaint details an incident in November 2022 when fire officials responded to a blaze at the victim's home at approximately 2:03 a.m., which was later determined to be incendiary in nature.
Later that day, at around 1:10 p.m., the fire department was called back to the same residence where they found the porch engulfed in flames, causing significant damage before it was extinguished. A Molotov cocktail was reportedly discovered at the scene.
The victim claims Rivera threatened him, saying he would kill his family and burn down his house.
In May 2024, another incident involved a vehicle fire in McAllen where authorities allegedly found another Molotov cocktail linked to Rivera.
If convicted, Rivera could face up to 20 years for arson and a maximum of 10 years for possession of a destructive device.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is leading the investigation with support from local agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Fry and Devin V. Walker are handling prosecution duties.
It is important to note that a criminal complaint is not evidence but a formal accusation. The defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process.