PHILADELPHIA – Greed fueled a deadly blaze. Al-Ashraf Khalil, 32, and Isaam Jaghama, 32, both of Philadelphia, have been sentenced to decades behind bars for the June 18, 2022, arson of a Fairhill pizza shop that claimed the life of Philadelphia Fire Department Lieutenant Sean Williamson and injured five other first responders. The sentences were handed down today by United States District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe.
Khalil received a crushing 40-year prison sentence, while Jaghama will spend 25 years incarcerated. Both men were also ordered to pay over $1.2 million in restitution to the City of Philadelphia to cover the medical bills of the injured firefighters and the costs associated with Lt. Williamson’s funeral. The pair were indicted in August 2023 and convicted in November 2024 on charges of conspiracy to commit malicious damage by means of fire and malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce. Khalil also faced additional convictions for wire fraud and using fire to further that fraud.
Evidence presented at trial revealed Khalil, the owner of the property at 300 West Indiana Avenue – which housed both apartments and the pizza shop – orchestrated the fire with Jaghama to collect a hefty insurance payout. Khalil didn’t even wait for the smoke to clear, signing paperwork the very day of the fire authorizing an insurance adjuster to file a claim exceeding $400,000. The scheme backfired spectacularly, costing a hero his life.
“Lt. Williamson lost his life as a result of Khalil and Jaghama’s greed,” stated U.S. Attorney David Metcalf. “This is a tragedy that didn’t have to happen. Our thoughts today are with the Williamson family and everyone at the Philadelphia Fire Department — while we can never make them whole, we’re gratified that the men responsible for such an indelible loss have now been brought to justice.” Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Office, added, “This case is a warning to those who would use fire and endanger lives for personal gain.”
The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the ATF Philadelphia and its National Response Team, alongside the Philadelphia Fire Department, the Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Philadelphia Police Department, with support from the Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections. The U.S. Marshals Service played a crucial role in the international apprehension of Khalil. Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson lamented, “It is difficult to believe that more than three years have passed since we lost Lt. Sean Williamson… We are grateful to the law enforcement officers, attorneys, and partner agencies who worked tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”
Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda R. Reinitz and Michael Miller prosecuted the case. Grimy Times notes that the release of this information was delayed due to the recent federal government shutdown, which ran from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025. This delay underscores the impact of political gridlock on the pursuit of justice, even in cases involving the senseless death of a public servant.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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