Jan. 24--A Hanover man involved in the $4.5 million arson of a West Manchester Township tire business in 2008 has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.
John H. Hughes Jr., 36, was convicted in August of conspiracy to commit arson, interstate transportation of stolen property and conspiracy to transport stolen property over state lines. He was sentenced Monday, according to defense attorney Laurence Kress.
Hughes also was ordered to pay $3.7 million in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
His co-defendant, 44-year-old Angel Rodriguez of York, previously pleaded guilty to one count of arson/affecting interstate commerce and in August was sentenced to five years in federal prison. He cooperated with authorities and helped them build a case against Hughes.
The background: The federal indictment against Hughes and Rodriguez states that they, along with others, stole tires, rims and other inventory from Americana Tire and Wheel Co. between 2006 and 2008. Both worked there, and Hughes was warehouse supervisors, prosecutors said.
The men then sold the stolen property to people and other businesses, the indictment states.
More than a half-million dollars worth of inventory went missing from Americana Tire and Wheel, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Hughes and Rodriguez agreed to torch Americana Tire and Wheel, located at 3001 W. Market St., to cover up their thefts, records state. It was Rodriguez who set the fire.
Firefighters dispatched to the scene of the Aug. 3, 2008, blaze discovered the warehouse's sprinkler system had been disabled, according to federal prosecutors, who said Hughes was one of the few employees who knew how to deactivate it.
Kress said he and Hughes are disappointed in the 15-year sentence.
"Mr. Rodriguez, who lit the fire ... got five years," he said. "So obviously, we respectfully disagree with the court on (Hughes' sentence)."
Got a 'break': Kress said Rodriguez "got a very substantial break" in sentencing because he cooperated with authorities. But Hughes also was willing to plead guilty for his actions, the attorney said.
"He was willing to plead guilty to the thefts, but he was not willing to plead guilty to the arson," Kress said, because Hughes maintains he had nothing to do with setting the fire.
Kress puts the blame squarely on Rodriguez for the arson. But Rodriguez's attorney, Chris Ferro, has said his client was used as a pawn and a "patsy" and is a "tortured soul" who regrets his actions.
Kress said Hughes has the right to appeal both his conviction and his sentence, "which I anticipate we'll do."
-- Reach Elizabeth Evans at [email protected], 505-5429 or twitter.com/ydcrimetime.
Copyright 2012 - The York Dispatch, Pa.
