CHICAGO – Otho Harris, 63, of Chicago, will spend the next eight years in federal prison for a brazen act of arson that gutted a Boost Mobile store on the city’s South Side. Harris was sentenced Thursday for setting fire to the store located at 809 E. 79th Street in September of 2019, a crime fueled by rage over a malfunctioning cellphone.
According to federal prosecutors, Harris’s fury erupted after a September 9th confrontation with a store employee. When told his phone couldn’t be repaired, Harris reportedly slammed the device onto the floor and stormed out. The following morning, Harris returned, breaking into the store and dousing the interior with gasoline before igniting it. The resulting blaze caused $195,701 in damages.
The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr., reflects not only the severity of the arson but also Harris’s extensive criminal history. Court records show Harris is a repeat offender with multiple prior prison sentences for other violent crimes. He pleaded guilty to one count of arson in September 2022.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, working in conjunction with the Chicago Police Department. Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffery L. Matthews of the ATF’s Chicago office and Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown announced the sentencing alongside U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr. for the Northern District of Illinois.
In addition to the 96-month prison term, Judge Tharp ordered Harris to pay full restitution of $195,701 to cover the costs of repairing the damage to the Boost Mobile store. Assistant U.S. Attorney Prashant Kolluri prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence.
This case underscores the serious consequences of even seemingly impulsive acts of violence. A petty dispute over a broken phone escalated into a dangerous and costly crime, leaving Harris facing a significant portion of his life behind bars. The ATF and CPD continue to work together to investigate and prosecute arson cases across the city.
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