Jason Mattis, Using a Destructive Device to Start a Fire, Pennsylvania 2022

PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia man is facing up to 10 years in prison after being convicted of using a destructive device to start a fire at a Northeast Philadelphia home in 2022.

Jason Mattis, 51, was found guilty of possessing an unregistered destructive device following a jury trial. The incident occurred on July 1, 2022, when Mattis lit an incendiary device similar to a Molotov cocktail and threw it onto the porch of a residence in the Tacony section of Northeast Philadelphia.

The device ignited and started a fire on the porch, as well as the sidewalk and the street in front. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives examined the evidence left at the scene and determined that the weapon used by the defendant was an incendiary bomb as that term is defined under federal law.

The case was investigated by the ATF’s Arson and Explosives Task Force, the Philadelphia Fire Department, and the Philadelphia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert is handling the prosecution.

According to the indictment, Mattis faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The residents of the home were inside at the time of the incident and escaped unharmed. The investigation and prosecution of this case highlight the importance of the public’s safety and the seriousness with which such crimes are taken.

The conviction is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement and the dedication of Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert to seeking justice for the victims of this crime.

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