A federal grand jury in Phoenix has indicted Ian William Moses, a 35-year-old from Mesa, Arizona, on charges related to arson at a Tesla dealership. Moses faces five counts of malicious damage to property and vehicles using fire, as detailed in the indictment.
The accusations indicate that Moses was at the Tesla dealership in Mesa on Monday, April 28, shortly before 2 a.m. Surveillance allegedly captured him wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, grey pants, black boots, and a black mask, while carrying a red plastic gas can and a black backpack. He was reportedly seen setting fire starter logs next to the dealership, pouring gasoline on them, the building, and three vehicles. The fire allegedly destroyed a Tesla Cybertruck.
According to reports, Mesa police apprehended Moses about a quarter mile from the dealership at 3 a.m., still in the same clothing. A map of the area, featuring a "T" marking the dealership, was found on him.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. No negotiating.” ATF Acting Director Dan Driscoll commented on the investigation's rapid progress, “This deliberate attack poses a serious threat to public safety.”
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine emphasized the seriousness of the incident: “These ongoing attacks against Tesla are not protests, they are acts of violence... If someone targets Tesla with violence, they will be found and confronted with the full force of the law.”
ATF Special Agent Brendan Iber recognized local law enforcement's contribution, “The professionalism and extensive investigative knowledge of the police and fire investigators within our arson taskforce cannot be overstated.” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell added her office's commitment to the case, highlighting their success in such prosecutions.
Mesa Police Chief Ken Cost praised the efforts of Superstition District Patrol officers in the investigation. He acknowledged their swift action in identifying and monitoring a suspicious van crucial to the operation.
Each count against Moses carries a possible sentence of five to 20 years and a $250,000 fine. The investigation is led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, Mesa Police Department, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond K. Woo prosecuting.
It is important to note that an indictment is not proof of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.