Mesa Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Setting Fire to Tesla Dealership

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Ian William Moses, 35, of Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced Jan. 13, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 60 months of imprisonment, the mandatory minimum, followed by 36 months of supervised release, for setting fire to a Tesla vehicle and a Tesla dealership in Mesa, Arizona, on April 28, 2025. Restitution will be determined at a hearing set for April 13, 2026.

A federal grand jury in Phoenix previously returned a five-count indictment charging Moses with maliciously damaging property and vehicles by means of fire, and Moses pleaded guilty to all charges on Oct. 27, 2025.

“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,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This five-year sentence reflects the gravity of these crimes and makes clear that politically fueled attacks on Arizona’s communities and businesses will be met with full accountability.”

“This sentence sends a clear message: violence and intimidation have no place in our community,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “Setting fire to a business in retaliation for political or personal grievances is not protest—it is a crime. Our community deserves to feel safe, and this sentence underscores that Maricopa County will not tolerate political violence in any form.”

According to court documents, surveillance cameras showed Moses was at the Tesla dealership in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday, April 28, 2025, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, grey pants, black boots, and a black mask. He also carried a red plastic gas can and a black backpack. While in the Tesla dealership parking lot, Moses was captured on video as he placed fire starter logs next to the dealership building. Moses then poured gasoline onto the starter logs, the building, and three Tesla vehicles. At around 1:38 a.m., Moses ignited the starter logs, causing a fire that destroyed a silver Tesla Cybertruck. Video shows Moses leaving the dealership on a dark colored bicycle shortly thereafter.

Mesa police officers arrested Moses approximately a quarter mile from the Tesla dealership at around 3 a.m., still dressed in the same clothes as he was seen wearing at the scene. After his arrest, officers found a hand drawn map of the area in Moses’ pocket, which included a box with the letter “T” marking the dealership’s location.

“Arson is a violent crime, that not only endangers members of our community, but our first responders as well,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Shawn Stallo. “Our certified fire investigators, supported by the National Fire Research Laboratory, enables ATF to work with our local, state, and federal agencies to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”

“The safety of our community is of the utmost importance to the Mesa Police Department,” said Chief Dan Butler. "We do not tolerate violence or malicious actions that can lead to injury or death to members of the public or first responders. We are pleased with the swift justice delivered in this case. We appreciate the strong work of the Maricopa County and U.S. Attorneys’ offices.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI Phoenix Field Office, Mesa Police Department, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond K. Woo and Maricopa Deputy County Attorney Luke Coyne prosecuted the case. Coyne also acts as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.

CASE NUMBER:  CR25-0657-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-005_Moses

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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