RIVERSIDE, Calif.
A San Bernardino County man has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with deliberately setting fires that destroyed a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse in Ontario, causing an estimated $500 million in damage, officials stated.
Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland, is charged with arson of a building used in interstate and foreign commerce. The complaint was filed late Thursday.
Abdulkarim was arrested Tuesday and remains in custody in San Bernardino County.
According to an affidavit, Abdulkarim filmed himself early April 7 setting fire to multiple pallets of paper goods inside a large distribution center. As he lit the fires, he allegedly said, “If you’re not going to pay us enough to [expletive] live or afford to live, at least pay us enough not to do this [expletive].”
The fires quickly spread and destroyed the building, authorities said.
Investigators allege Abdulkarim posted videos of the fires on social media and made additional statements by phone and text about his motive, including: “I just cost these [expletive] billions,” and “All you had to do was pay us enough to live.”
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office is also pursuing a separate criminal case related to the fire.
The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
If convicted, Abdulkarim faces up to 20 years in prison.
Quick facts
- Defendant: Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland
- Charge: Federal arson (interstate commerce)
- Incident date: April 7
- Location: Ontario, California
- Damage: Approximately $500 million
- Facility size: 1.2 million square feet
- Custody status: In local custody; state arraignment pending
- Potential sentence: 5-year minimum, up to 20 years in federal prison