Baltimore, Maryland - Scott Daniel Wilson, age 55, of Highland, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to arson.

The plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Chief William McMahon of the Howard County Police Department; and Chief William F. Goddard III of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

According to Wilson’s guilty plea and other court documents, on October 31, 2008, Wilson set fire to a house at 7202 Mink Hollow Road. Wilson was living at 7202 Mink Hollow Road and also maintained space in the residence for his company, Subtractions LLC, a computer and electronics recycling company servicing the Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia area. The fire caused substantial damage to the home. When the Howard County Fire Department responded to the fire, Wilson attempted to drive his Jeep on the property, narrowly missing a Howard County firefighter.

On December 31, 2008, Wilson poured screws and glass on the driveway of a potential witness against him and on January 8, 2008 threatened to kill the grandchildren of two other potential witnesses.

Wilson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for July 30, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Harry Gruber and Martin Clarke who are prosecuting the case.