FALL RIVER MAN CONVICTED FOR ARSON
BOSTON, MA - A Fall River man was convicted today in federal court of arson for the burning of the Osprey Sea Kayak Company in Westport, MA.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Glen N. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Boston Field Division, announced today that ARTHUR S. MOONEY, of Fall River, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner, to arson.
At today’s plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government’s evidence would have proven that on the evening of June 29, 2007, MOONEY and another individual, set nine separate random fires in the towns of Fall River and Westport. The fires were initially limited to trash containers and dumpsters but then escalated to motor vehicles, an abandoned commercial building and the Osprey Sea Kayak Company located in Westport, MA. The Osprey Sea kayak Company suffered heavy damage to the building and its contents including kayaks, wetsuits, clothing and other related products were damaged by smoke and fire. Fifty to seventy kayaks located outside the building were completely melted by the radiant heat from the fire. Total losses exceeded $250,000 to the property and equipment.
Judge Gertner scheduled sentencing for May 3, 2010. MOONEY faces up to 20 years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $ 250,000 fine and restitution.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Westport Police and Fire Departments, the Fall River Fire Department and the State’s Fire Marshal’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crime Unit.
