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Man Charged with Arson in Warehouse Blaze
RUBEN ANTONIO OCHOA CRUZ, a 20-year-old high lift operator from Joliet, has been charged with one count of arson for allegedly causing a fire that destroyed his employer’s furniture distribution center in west suburban Woodridge.
According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, CRUZ used a Bic lighter to spark the fire on April 21, 2016, after meeting with his supervisors regarding an issue with his attendance at work. Approximately 65 employees were working at the warehouse at the time of the fire, and all of them escaped safely.
The fire raged for seven hours, causing millions of dollars in damage, before firefighters from approximately 30 departments were able to extinguish the blaze. The distribution center was burned to the ground, with no firefighters injured in the process.
CRUZ made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez and was ordered held in federal custody. A detention hearing was scheduled for May 4, 2016, at 11:00 a.m.
The arson charge carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Misty Wright. Officials praised the bravery of the firefighters who worked tirelessly to extinguish the blaze, with Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Jeffery Magee, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of ATF, leading the praise.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Woodridge Police Department, Lemont Police Department and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt, and CRUZ is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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