Thomas Gleason, Arson of African-American Church, Massachusetts 2008

A Springfield man was sentenced to prison for his role in the arson of an African-American church in the city.

Thomas Gleason, 24, was sentenced to 54 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

Gleason was also ordered to pay over $1.7 million in restitution, including $123,570 to the Macedonia Church of God in Christ.

The arson occurred just hours after the election of President Barack Obama on November 5, 2008. The predominantly African-American congregation’s newly-constructed building was approximately 75 percent completed at the time of the fire, which destroyed nearly the entire structure.

Gleason pleaded guilty in June 2010 to conspiracy against civil rights, damage or destruction of religious property, and use of fire to commit a felony. His co-conspirators, Benjamin Haskell and Michael Jacques, were previously sentenced to nine years in prison and 14 years in prison, respectively.

“Attempting to destroy a place of worship not only hurts those who congregate there, but affects the entire community,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul H. Smyth and Kevin O’Regan of the U.S. Attorney Springfield Office and Nicole Lee Ndumele, Trial Attorney in the Civil Rights Division.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Violent Crime

Shuaipajs, Identity Theft, California 2022

Jul 1, 2012

Violent Crime

Miller, Armed Robbery, Illinois 2023

Jul 1, 2014

Violent Crime

Lawrence Village Center, Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender, South Dakota 2014

Jun 22, 2015

Violent Crime

SHEMET, Complex Federal Offense, Florida 2024

Jul 1, 2008