Ian William Moses, a 35-year-old from Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for setting fire to a Tesla dealership and destroying a Cybertruck in April 2025. The attack, captured on surveillance video, was described as politically motivated and endangered public safety. Prosecutors emphasized that such acts will face full accountability.
On January 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa sentenced Ian William Moses to five years in prison—the mandatory minimum—followed by three years of supervised release. Moses, 35, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to five federal counts of maliciously damaging property and vehicles by means of fire. A restitution hearing is set for April 13, 2026, to determine the payment amount.
The incident occurred in the early hours of April 28, 2025, at the Tesla dealership located at 7444 E. Hampton Avenue in Mesa, near Southern Avenue and Sossaman Road. Surveillance footage showed Moses arriving shortly before 2 a.m., dressed in a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, gray pants, black boots, and a black mask. He carried a red plastic gas can and a black backpack. Prosecutors detailed that he placed fire starter logs along the building's exterior, poured gasoline on the logs, the structure, and three nearby Cybertrucks, then ignited the blaze with a lighter. The fire destroyed one Cybertruck and caused minor damage to the building.
Moses also spray-painted the misspelled word “THEIF” on the dealership wall. He fled on a bicycle and was arrested around 3 a.m. about a quarter-mile away, still wearing the same clothes. Authorities found a hand-drawn map in his possession marking the location with a “T.” He was indicted two days after his arrest.
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine stated, “Arson can never be an acceptable part of American politics. Mr. Moses’ actions endangered the public and first responders and could have easily turned deadly. This five-year sentence reflects the gravity of these crimes and makes clear that politically fueled attacks on Arizona’s communities and businesses will be met with full accountability.”
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell added, “This sentence sends a clear message: violence and intimidation have no place in our community. Setting fire to a business in retaliation for political or personal grievances is not protest, it is a crime.”
The case drew attention from Attorney General Pam Bondi and was part of a wave of attacks on Tesla properties in 2025, linked to Elon Musk's role in the Department of Government Efficiency. Defense attorneys noted Moses has autism, which they said contributed to his decisions, though no terrorism charges were filed despite initial descriptions as domestic terrorism.
