U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Michael B. Benitez, a 34-year-old resident of Buffalo, NY, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for his involvement in a fire on railroad tracks in Farnham. Benitez was convicted of attempting to wreck, derail, set fire to, or disable railroad on-track equipment. In addition to the prison sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, Benitez must pay $1,382 in restitution to Norfolk Southern Railway.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly reported that on June 14, 2023, Benitez placed several tires on the railroad tracks behind his then-residence on Railroad Avenue in Farnham. He poured gasoline over the tires and ignited them. The resulting fire damaged equipment owned by Norfolk Southern used for identifying enroute railroad equipment. This incident caused delays as trains were held while the fire was extinguished and repairs were made.
The investigation leading to this sentencing involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia's direction, the Town of Brandt Police Department led by Chief Mark Slawek, and the Norfolk Southern Police Department.