Man Charged for Allegedly Setting a Retail Business on Fire

On Thursday, a Rockford man was arrested on a federal arson charge for allegedly setting fire to a local retail business. On Jan. 12, 2021, 20-year-old Sean Cardenas was indicted by a federal grand jury in Rockford. He was indicted on one count of maliciously damaging and destroying, and attempting to damage and destroy, using fire, a building at 6260 E. State St. in Rockford.

The alleged arson occurred on May 30, 2020. Cardenas appeared before U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Thursday afternoon. He pleaded not guilty. A detention hearing is set for January 19, 2021, at 11:30 a.m. He is ordered to remain in federal custody. John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Kristen deTineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives announced the indictment and arrest.

The Rockford Police Department and Rockford Fire Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Maveus is representing the government. The charge holds a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years, in addition to a fine of up to $250,000.