RED LAKE, MN – A Red Lake woman is headed to federal prison after being sentenced for her role in a brazen arson attack on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Dalene Roberta Fajardo, 35, was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release on August 14, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
The fire, ignited on April 30, 2021, wasn’t a random act. Court documents reveal Fajardo conspired with Corey Leigh Stately, 40, and Lori Anna Sayers, 33, to build Molotov cocktails – crude incendiary devices – and use them to destroy a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The trio traveled to a location on the reservation with the intention of setting the vehicle ablaze.
Their plan worked. The Tahoe was completely destroyed by the fire, and the flames spread, partially burning a nearby residence. Critically, the residence was occupied, forcing residents, including children, to evacuate in the middle of the night. The deliberate targeting of property and the endangerment of lives paint a picture of reckless disregard for the safety of the Red Lake community.
Fajardo pleaded guilty on March 7 to one count of aiding and abetting arson. Chief Judge Patrick J. Schlitz handed down the sentence in U.S. District Court. While Fajardo received the longest sentence, her co-defendants have already begun serving their time: Stately was sentenced to five months in prison, and Sayers received three months.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Red Lake Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the FBI. These agencies worked together to gather evidence, identify the perpetrators, and bring them to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan Gilead and Laura M. Provinzino prosecuted the case.
While this sentence closes the book on this particular case, it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by arson and the commitment of federal and tribal law enforcement to protect communities like Red Lake. The ATF’s St. Paul Field Division played a key role in unraveling the conspiracy and ensuring those responsible faced consequences for their actions.
Related Federal Cases
- Leroy Williams, Arson, Minneapolis MN, 2020 · Minnesota
- Dylan Little, Arson & Civil Rights Violations, Minnesota 2023 · Minnesota
- Jackie Little, Arson at Mosques, Minneapolis MN, 2023 · Minnesota
- Guy George Parenteau, Firearms Burglary, MT, 2013 · Montana
- David Michael Ansberry, Explosive Device Planting, CO, 2023 · Illinois
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons