Gregory Brown, Jr. Charged Federally for 1995 Fire that Killed Three Pittsburgh Firefighters

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of malicious destruction of property by fire resulting in death, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The one-count indictment, returned on Nov. 1 and unsealed today, named Gregory Brown, Jr., 39, currently incarcerated, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, Brown set fire to a residential rental home located in Pittsburgh on February 14, 1995, which fire resulted in the deaths of firefighters Thomas Brooks, Patricia Conroy and Marc Kolenda.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Fire Marshal and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.