Two men, Dantoni Colbert, 35, and Edward Matthews, Jr., 33, from Memphis, Tennessee, have pled guilty to charges related to a series of arson attacks on tax service businesses in the area. The crimes were committed in February 2023, targeting three buildings occupied by Washington Tax Services.
United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced that Colbert and Matthews faced charges of conspiracy to commit arson and arson of the buildings. Matthews entered his guilty plea on February 8, 2024, while Colbert did so on May 15, 2024. Both individuals appeared before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker.
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The defendants are now facing significant legal consequences. Each man could receive a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, with a potential maximum sentence of 20 years. Additionally, they may be fined up to $250,000 and subjected to up to 3 years of supervised release, as there is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in collaboration with the Memphis Fire Department.
United States Attorney Ritz emphasized the danger posed by arson, especially to first responders and the community. He assured that law enforcement would continue to take such crimes seriously. Marcus Watson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF Nashville, also highlighted the risks and potential motives behind arson, including intimidation, harm, and fraudulent insurance claims.
Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Wagner and Stephen Hall are handling the prosecution of the case.
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
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Tennessee Man Indicted on Child Exploitation Charges
Markettus Lorenzo Broyld, a 47-year-old registered sex offender, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Jackson, Tennessee, on multiple child exploitation charges involving a minor. The case, investigated by the FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force and the Jackson Police Department, is set for trial in October 2024. If convicted, Broyld faces up to life in prison.