BRUNDIDGE, AL – A Coffee County auto sales business was gutted by fire in January 2021, and now, 33-year-old Dezarae Lashay Wiggins of Brundidge is paying the price. A federal judge handed down a 60-month prison sentence on September 7th, ensuring Wiggins won’t be eligible for parole. The blaze, deemed arson, ripped through the business, leaving behind a trail of destruction – buildings reduced to rubble, vehicles totaled, and equipment and auto parts lost.
The investigation, spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office, Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, and Pike County Sheriff’s Office, quickly pointed to Wiggins and her accomplice, 48-year-old Charles Edward Jones of Clio, Alabama. Surveillance footage allegedly captured the pair igniting the fire during the early morning hours, turning a local business into an inferno. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office provided assistance during the investigation.
This wasn’t a spontaneous act. The fire caused significant damage, jeopardizing not only the business owner’s livelihood but also the lives of first responders battling the blaze. U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart stated, “Acts of arson can jeopardize the lives of community members and first responders.” She praised the work of those who extinguished the fire and brought the arsonists to justice.
Jones, a former employee of the car lot, already received his sentence on June 26th, 2023 – a staggering 162 months behind bars. Wiggins’ sentencing marks the second conviction in the case, but the story isn’t over. A federal judge will now determine the amount of restitution owed to the victim of this destructive crime. The financial fallout from the arson is expected to be substantial.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson emphasized the agency’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting arson cases. “ATF’s Certified Fire Investigators conduct fire scene examinations rendering origin and cause determinations and provide technical analysis,” Watson said, highlighting the technical expertise brought to bear in this investigation. This case serves as a stark reminder that arson is a violent crime with serious consequences.
Assistant United States Attorney Justin L. Jones prosecuted the case. While Wiggins and Jones are now facing the consequences of their actions, the scars of the fire will remain in Coffee County for years to come. The investigation underscores the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime in Alabama and beyond. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is located in Montgomery, Alabama.
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