Logan J. Smith, Racially Motivated Arson, Missouri 2008

A family in Independence, Mo. fell victim to a heinous crime when their residence was set ablaze in a racially motivated arson attack. The perpetrators, Logan J. Smith, 25, and Victoria A. Cheek Herrera, 34, both from Independence, Mo., have been held accountable for their actions.

On June 26, 2008, Smith and Cheek Herrera conspired to injure, oppress, threaten and intimidate an African-American couple and their children in the free exercise of their constitutional rights to occupy and rent their home in Independence. The incident began when the defendants discussed their desire to set the victim family's home on fire and they drew a swastika and wrote the words 'White Power' on the driveway.

The defendants then asked a juvenile acquaintance for gasoline and created a Molotov cocktail by filling a glass bottle with gasoline and inserting a rag into the bottle to serve as a wick. The defendants then lit the wick and threw the bottle into the side of the house, which set the residence on fire.

Logan J. Smith pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to threaten and intimidate a family in Independence from exercising their constitutional right to reside in their home because of their race or color and one count of a civil rights violation for committing a racially-motivated arson. Victoria A. Cheek Herrera also pleaded guilty to the same charges.

On Aug. 28, 2013, Smith was sentenced to serve 63 months in prison, while Cheek Herrera was sentenced to serve 77 months in prison. The sentence reflects the severe nature of the crime and the desire to deter such acts of violence in the future.

Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels stated, 'Every person in America has the right to occupy a home free from racially-motivated violence and threats.' U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson added, 'Today's tough sentences send a strong message that racially-motivated violence and threats will not be tolerated in our community.'

This case is being prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Ketchmark and Trial Attorney Shan Patel of the Civil Rights Division. It was investigated by the FBI.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/missouri-man-and-woman-sentenced-violating-civil-rights-family-racially-motivated-arson