EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Belleville man willingly stepped into federal court this week and admitted to a reckless act of arson that endangered lives and damaged property. Carlos A. Rodriguez, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of arson of real property used in interstate commerce, a federal charge carrying significant weight.
The crime unfolded on the evening of September 10, 2018, at the CC Food Mart in Lebanon, Illinois. According to court documents, Rodriguez casually entered the men’s restroom and deliberately ignited a plastic air freshener affixed to the wall. He then calmly exited the store, leaving a ticking time bomb in his wake.
Just seven minutes later, the smell of smoke filled the air. Customers and employees discovered an active fire rapidly spreading within the confined space of the restroom. Fortunately, quick action prevented the blaze from escalating into a full-blown catastrophe, but not before inflicting approximately $6,000 in damage.
Federal investigators weren’t buying any accidental explanations. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) took the lead, meticulously reconstructing the restroom in a laboratory setting. Through multiple controlled experiments, they definitively proved the fire’s origin and timing, effectively eliminating other restroom users as potential suspects. The evidence pointed squarely at Rodriguez.
Rodriguez now faces a mandatory minimum of five years behind bars, with the potential for up to twenty years imprisonment. He also risks a hefty fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release following his incarceration. The investigation was a joint effort between the ATF, the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Lebanon Police Department, with the Lebanon Fire Department responding to the initial emergency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke is prosecuting the case, and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 7, 2026. This case serves as a stark reminder that deliberate acts of destruction will not be tolerated, and those who endanger public safety will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it progresses.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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