Flushing resident Atahualpa Rodriguez pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday to committing arson of a multi-story apartment building on Parsons Boulevard last January.
One firefighter was injured in a partial ceiling collapse and another firefighter suffered first-degree burns battling the fire Rodriguez set.
“Today, the defendant admitted he deliberately set fire to an apartment building in the pre-dawn darkness while many of the tenants slept, causing the destruction of one apartment unit, damage to surrounding units and injuries to the brave first responders who battled the blaze,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said.
According to court filings, on Jan. 11, Rodriguez was in a dispute with the tenants in one apartment of the building. The next morning, Rodriguez firebombed the multi-story apartment building on Parson Boulevard which contained approximately 175 units and hundreds of tenants. At around 4:40 a.m., a resident of the targeted apartment awoke to the sound of breaking glass and heard a voice state: “F–k you all.” The resident walked out of the bedroom and saw the blaze ignited by Rodriguez. The fire caused approximately $1 million in damages and completely destroyed the targeted apartment.
“His actions showed complete disregard for human life and placed hundreds of people in grave danger over a personal dispute,” Peace said. “Rodriguez will now face just punishment for his actions.”
When sentenced, Rodriguez faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.
“Deliberately setting a fire is an egregious crime that deserves severe punishment,” FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said.
In addition to the firefighter injured during the ceiling collapse and the second who suffered serious burns, a third firefighter was hospitalized after breathing contaminated air.
“In this case, three of our firefighters were injured due to this unspeakable crime,” Tucker said. “We want to thank the NYPD’s Arson and Explosion Squad, along with FDNY fire marshals and ATF agents, for their diligence and swift work in this case. We are relieved Atahualpa Rodriguez will no longer be on our city’s streets.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch thanked the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York for ensuring that criminal actions are met with appropriate consequences.
“Deliberate criminal activity, such as the type Mr. Rodriguez pleaded guilty today, poses a significant threat to both first responders and private citizens and goes against everything that New York City stands for,” Tisch said. “I am grateful that the injuries sustained by our FDNY colleagues were not more severe, and I commend them for their dedication in maintaining the safety of all New Yorkers.”
