Guam News - Guam News

Guam - The U.S.Attorney's Office has announced that Jonathan W. Cruz has been sentenced to 8 years 4 months in prison for starting the May 2010 fire that destroyed the National Office Supply store in Maite.

Cruz entered a plea of guilty last August, admitting to setting the fire to cover his break-in and theft of property from the store.

At sentencing yesterday [Monday] , Chief Judge Francis Tydingco-Gatewood also held the 36 year old Cruz accountable for $1.7 million dollars in restitution for the destruction of the building.

While fighting the fire in 2010, four firemen suffered injury from smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. The structure has since been torn down and the lot remains vacant.

READ the release from the U.S. Attorney below:

JONATHAN W. CRUZ SENTENCED FOR  MALICEOUS USE OF FIRE WITH PERSONAL INJURY

ALICIA AG. LIMTIACO, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that JONATHAN W. CRUZ (CRUZ), age 36, was sentenced on March 4, 2013 by United State District Court Chief Judge Frances M. Tydingoo-Gatewood to eight years and four months imprisonment to be followed by live years of federal supervised release for the offense of Malicious Use of Fire with Personal Injury in connection with the National Office Supply Store fire in Maite on May 18, 2010. Chief Judge Tydineo-Gatewood also ordered CRUZ to pay $1,725,000~00 in restitution.

According to court records, on May 18, 2010, the Guam Fire Department responded to a fire at the National Office Supply Store in Maite. When they arrived the building was fully engulfed in flames. While fighting the fire, four firemen suffered injury from smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. 

Investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives resulted in the arrest of CRUZ on April 25, 2012. He was indicted by the Federal Grand Jury on April 25, 2012 and charged with Malicious Use of Fire with Personal Injury resulting. He plead guilty to this offense on August 2, 2012. CRUZ, who has been incarcerated since his arrest, was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to complete service of his prison sentence.

U.S. Attorney Limtiaco commended the investigative efforts of the special agents and task force agents ofthe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. She also praised the Work of the Guam Fire Department and the Guam Police Department for their assistance in this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant US. Attorney Clyde Lemons. CRUZ was represented by attorney Jeffery A. Moots, Esq.