PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) -- Two men will face federal prison time for setting a Pennsylvania pizza shop aflame, resulting in the death of a firefighter in the ensuing response.
Al-Ashraf Khalil, 31, and Isaam Jaghama, 31, both of Philadelphia, were convicted Thursday by a federal jury on one count each of conspiracy to commit malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce, and one count each of malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce.
Khalil was also found guilty of one county of wire fraud and using fire in furtherance of wire fraud.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Khalil owned a property at 300 West Indiana Avenue in Philadelphia's Fairhill section. That property housed a pizza shop and apartments.
In the early hours of June 18, 2022, the two set fire to the structure intending to profit from an insurance claim.
Philadelphia Fire Department Lt. Sean Williamson died and five other first responders were injured when the building collapsed in the ensuing blaze.
“This fire wasn’t an accident or act of God,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. “But for these defendants, it never would have started, the building would still stand, and Lt. Williamson would still be with his family — a wholly preventable tragedy, sparked by greed. While today’s convictions can never make up for such an immeasurable loss, they ensure a measure of justice for Lt. Williamson, the Williamson family, and the dedicated first responders of the Philadelphia Fire Department. They also reinforce that anyone reckless enough to commit arson will be held to account for their actions.”
“Arson is a dangerous deadly crime,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Office. “In this case two families with children had to run for their lives, four responders were buried alive, and a firefighter was killed. Bringing together the resources of the ATF Philadelphia Arson & Explosives Task Force and the ATF National Response Team, the Philadelphia Fire Department, the Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office, the Philadelphia Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we brought these arsonists to justice, and they now face up to life in federal prison. ATF is committed to protecting our communities from dangerous criminals and will continue to partner to prevent and prosecute crimes like this.”
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“The Philadelphia Fire Department will forever mourn the loss of Lieutenant Sean Williamson. We thank the United States Attorney and Justice Department for their diligence in bringing these men to justice. Our fervent hope is that this verdict will bring even a small amount of closure to Lt. Williamson’s family, both at home and in the PFD,” said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson.
Khalil faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 17 years in federal prison and a maximum of life, while Jaghama faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of life.