Related Federal Cases
Arson Plot Unfolds in Buffalo’s Old First Ward
A 61-year-old Buffalo man has pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to burn down a duplex in the city’s Old First Ward neighborhood.
Michael Fijal, a local bank employee, conspired with accomplices to torch a duplex at 179 Mackinaw Street in May 2011. Investigators say Fijal withdrew money from a local bank to pay an accomplice to burn the building, and paid them both before and after the fire on May 22, 2011.
The charge of conspiracy to commit arson carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Fijal’s sentencing is scheduled for January 16, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Buffalo Fire Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch is handling the case. U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced Fijal’s guilty plea, which is the result of the joint investigation.
The duplex fire on Mackinaw Street is just the latest in a string of arson cases to rock the city’s Old First Ward neighborhood. Community residents are calling for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to prevent such crimes.
The guilty plea is a significant blow to Fijal, who faces a maximum of five years in prison and a hefty fine. The case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of arson and the importance of working together to prevent such crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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