On Tuesday, Ian William Moses, a 35-year-old Mesa resident, received a sentence of five years in federal prison for his role in the arson of a local Tesla dealership. According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona, Moses was also sentenced to an additional three years of supervised release following his prison term, with a hearing for restitution scheduled on April 13.
Moses' acts were part of a politically motivated attack that took place on April 28, 2025, where he set fire to property and vehicles, causing extensive damage. After being charged on a five-count indictment, he pleaded guilty to all charges on October 27 of the same year. In a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine condemned the arson, remarking, "Arson can never be an acceptable part of American politics. Mr. Moses’ actions endangered the public and first responders and could have easily turned deadly."
Surveillance footage placed Moses at the dealership in the early hours before the fire, dressed in a dark sweatshirt, tan ballcap, and black mask among other items while carrying gasoline and fire starter logs. Furthermore, a hand-drawn map of the area with the dealership marked was found on Moses at the time of his arrest, which occurred not far from the scene. As detailed in the U.S. Attorney's Office release, his sentencing sends a loud message of zero tolerance for political violence from the authorities of Maricopa County.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell expressed in a statement, "Setting fire to a business in retaliation for political or personal grievances is not protest—it is a crime." In her view, such actions undermine the community's sense of safety and must be addressed with stringent legal consequence. The collaborative effort from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Phoenix Field Office, the Mesa Police Department, and local attorneys underscored the seriousness with which this case was pursued.
The Chief of Mesa Police Department Chief Dan Butler commended the quick resolution and the cohesive work of various agencies. "The safety of our community is of the utmost importance to the Mesa Police Department," Butler told the U.S. Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond K. Woo and Maricopa Deputy County Attorney Luke Coyne, who also served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, were the prosecutors in the case.
