FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY - May 18, 2011

KINSTON RESIDENT RECEIVES FEDERAL SENTENCE IN ARSON CASE

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced MAHMOUD ABALLA ASHUBI, 41, of Kinston, North Carolina, to 60 months’ imprisonment followed by three years’ supervised release. The Court also imposed restitution in the amount of $43,234.53.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on October 8, 2008. On February 16, 2011, ASHUBI pled guilty to arson of a building and property used in interstate commerce.

On August 27, 2006, firefighters responded to a fire at the Tobacco, Deli and Grocery store owned by ASHUBI and located in Kinston, North Carolina. ASHUBI, who had opened the store less than two months prior to the fire, claimed that the fire had started from an electrical shortage of the microwave. However, investigative evidence showed that the fire had been manmade and occurred in the cabinet below the microwave. On September 6, 2008, ASHUBI filed a claim with Nationwide Insurance company for $115,000 in damages.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; and the Kinston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Bragdon served as prosecutor for the government

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.