A woman has been sentenced to 70 months in prison for setting fire to a local business to cover up her theft of over $700,000.
Carey Alice Hernandez, 46, was sentenced in federal court in San Diego, California, after a four-day trial found her guilty of malicious destruction of a building by means of fire, witness tampering, and making false statements.
The fire occurred on March 28, 2019, at Off Road Warehouse, a business that sold and installed automotive parts and gear for off-roading, which Hernandez had been in charge of finances for.
A prospective purchaser of the business conducted an audit, which revealed that between January 2015 and March 2019, $744,621 had gone missing from the company.
Hernandez lied to federal agents and ORW employees, claiming her SUV had light rims, when surveillance footage showed her driving an SUV with dark rims near her home and the fire scene.
“Arson crimes are not victimless,” said Acting ATF Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jose Medina. “These criminal acts destroy lives, property, and businesses. In this case, the motive was greed—fire was used as a cover-up for criminal activity.
A hearing to determine the restitution that Hernandez owes the victims of her crimes is scheduled for March 14, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case in conjunction with San Diego’s Metro Arson Strike Team.
The defendant’s actions were described by U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta as “wanton, deliberate and destructive” and “a very dangerous crime” that put firefighters at risk.
Hernandez’s motives were described as “greed” and the use of fire as a cover-up for her criminal activity.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Brehm and Carl Brooker.
DEFENDANT: Carey Alice Hernandez, 46, Rathdrum, Idaho.
SUMMARY OF CHARGES: Malicious Destruction of Building by Means of Fire – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 844(i), Maximum penalty: No less than 5 years in prison and no more than 20 years and $250,000 fine. Witness Tampering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1512(b)(3), Maximum penalty: 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine. False Statements – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001(a)(2), Maximum penalty: 5 years in prison and $250,000 fine.
Related Federal Cases
- Paul La, Arson and Insurance Fraud, California 2024 · Idaho
- Juan Carlos Hernandez, Identity Theft, California 2020 · Idaho
- Anibal Hernandez Santana, Shooting at TV Station, California 2024 · Idaho
- Anibal Hernandez Santana, Possessing a Firearm within a School Zone, California 2024 · Idaho
- Juan Hernandez, ID Theft Ring, California 2022 · Idaho
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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