A Rathdrum, Idaho woman, Carey Alice Hernandez, aged 46, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for setting a destructive fire at a local business in San Diego. The blaze intentionally ignited to supposedly obscure the theft of over $700,000, entirely leveled Off Road Warehouse, an enterprise specializing in automotive off-roading parts and installation. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Hernandez was found guilty on multiple charges, including malicious destruction of property by means of fire, witness tampering, and making false statements.
The conviction came after deliberation at a four-day trial held in April 2024. Hernandez, who had managed the company's financial records between January 2015 and March 2019, saw her scheme unravel following an audit that was conducted by a prospective buyer of the business. The investigation laid bare that $744,621 had mysteriously vanished from the company's coffers. The jury found it was in the early morning of March 28, 2019, that Hernandez chose to, quite literally, set her fraud on fire, catalyzing a fire that would not only destroy the physical evidence but also endanger lives in the process.
In a hearing prior to the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta characterized the defendant’s actions as "wanton, deliberate and destructive," stating that it was "a very dangerous crime" affecting not only the business owners but also the firefighters who responded to the call, as cited by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The judge also remarked on the aggravated nature of the crime with Hernandez involving her minor daughter to echo false claims in a bid to reinforce her alibi. Evidence presented at the trial included surveillance footage that contradicted Hernandez's statements about her vehicle, which led to her conviction for witness tampering and false statements.
As detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) National Response Team, alongside San Diego’s Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST), conducted the investigation into the case. Acting ATF Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jose Medina emphasized the serious consequences of arson, noting that these crimes "are not victimless," and acknowledging the teams involved for their thorough work and dedication in determining the origin and cause of this deliberate fire. Medina affirmed ATF's commitment to tirelessly pursue justice for arson-related crimes.
Hernandez is set to face a restitution hearing on March 14, 2025, where the amount she owes to the victims will be determined. The prosecution of this case has been the responsibility of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Brehm and Carl Brooker. The charges leveled against Hernandez could have led to a much steeper penalty, with the potential for decades in prison and hefty fines, according to the maximum sentences stipulated under each count.
