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Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Arson
A Rochester man pleaded guilty to arson of a Minneapolis pawn shop, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
Montez Terriel Lee, 26, broke into the Max It Pawn Shop on East Lake Street in Minneapolis on May 28, 2020, along with others. Surveillance video footage caught Lee pouring a fire accelerant around the pawn shop and lighting the accelerant on fire. The fire destroyed the building.
A second video showed Lee standing in front of the burning pawn shop. Lee can be heard saying, ‘[expletive] this place. We’re gonna burn this [expletive] down.’
The arson was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Rochester Police Department, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.
Lee’s guilty plea marks a significant development in the case, which was sparked by the devastating fire that destroyed the Max It Pawn Shop. The arson attack caused significant damage and disruption to the community.
Lee is scheduled to be sentenced, but a date has not been set. The maximum penalty for arson is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The court will determine the actual sentence based on the federal sentencing guidelines and other factors.
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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