Broken Arrow Man Pleads Guilty To Arson

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced that Matthew Evan Smith, age 37, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, pled guilty to Arson, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 844(i) and 2, punishable by not less than 5 years or more than 20 years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00 or both. 

The Indictment alleged that on or about April 26, 2017, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, maliciously damaged, and attempted to damage and destroy, by means of fire, the Sherwin-Williams Paint Store located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which was used in an activity affecting  interstate commerce. 

The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. 

Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris represented the United States.