Two Memphis men have admitted to setting ablaze a trio of tax businesses in a spree of arson that rocked the local community. Dantoni Colbert, 35, and Edward Matthews, Jr., 33, entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit arson and arson of these establishments in the River City. These acts of deliberate destruction took place in February 2023, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
On the days following the chilling Memphis winter, February 6 and 7, 2023, Colbert and Matthews hatched a plan and subsequently executed the burning of multiple buildings housing Washington Tax Services, as per details disclosed in court. Matthews faced his reckoning first, acknowledging his part in all four counts of the indictment on February 8, and Colbert followed suit, pleading guilty on May 15, to the same counts before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker.
Both men now face the grim prospect of prison time, with sentences ranging from a mandatory minimum of five years to up to 20 years in the penitentiary, including fines that may swell up to $250,000, and as much as three years of supervised release. Within the stern walls of federal institutions, the concept of parole is a nonstarter, leaving these men to count the full measure of days decreed by their sentences.
According to United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz, "Arson is a dangerous crime that threatens the safety of the community—and in particular, the safety of first responders in our city." He emphasized that those who engage in the arson of businesses in West Tennessee will not escape the vigilant eye of law enforcement. Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of ATF Nashville echoed this sentiment, underlining the risks that arson carries for residents and emergency personnel, along with its damaging impact on the financial stability of the community, as per the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ritz did not miss the opportunity to express his gratitude towards Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Wagner and Stephen Hall, the diligent prosecutors on this case, and the law enforcement partners that contributed to the investigation. The teamwork displayed in bringing the perpetrators to justice reflects a city united against the scourge of arson, which threatens not just property, but the very fabric of public safety and trust.
