Man Convicted of Arson for Throwing Molotov Cocktails at Apartments

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal judge convicted an Alexandria man today on charges of arson after throwing Molotov cocktails and setting fire to an apartment building in Alexandria.

According to court records and evidence presented at the bench trial, Josepha Kasai, 23, smashed a Molotov cocktail at the door of a third floor apartment unit, setting fire to the doorway and trapping nine individuals on the third floor. Kasai then went outside and threw another Molotov cocktail at the third floor apartment unit, breaking through the bedroom window. The entire building was evacuated due to the fire. A victim inside the third floor apartment jumped from his balcony and Kasai chased the victim with what appeared to be a knife. After Kasai’s arrest, he informed law enforcement he intended to kill the victim who jumped from the balcony and claimed the victim had previously stolen his iPhone. 

Kasai was convicted of arson and possession of an unregistered destructive device and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 30 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 9, 2018. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Arron J. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, Robert C. Dubé, Chief of Alexandria Fire Department, and Michael L. Brown, Chief of Alexandria Police Department, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga rendered the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maureen C. Cain and Nicholas U. Murphy II are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-268.