A Mesa man is facing serious federal charges after allegedly setting fire to a Tesla dealership in the middle of the night—destroying a Tesla Cybertruck and damaging several vehicles in what authorities are calling a deliberate and dangerous act of arson.
Ian William Moses, 35, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Phoenix this week on five counts of maliciously damaging property and vehicles in interstate commerce by means of fire. The charges stem from a dramatic incident that unfolded in the early morning hours of April 28.
According to federal prosecutors, surveillance footage captured Moses just before 2 a.m. on the Tesla lot in Mesa. Dressed in a dark hoodie, grey pants, black boots, a tan ballcap, and a black mask—and carrying a red plastic gas can and a black backpack—he reportedly placed fire starter logs next to the dealership building. Authorities say he then poured gasoline over the logs, the building, and three Tesla vehicles before lighting the blaze.
By 1:38 a.m., the fire was raging, ultimately destroying a silver Tesla Cybertruck. Moses was spotted leaving the scene moments later on a dark-colored bicycle.
Mesa police arrested him nearby just over an hour later—still wearing the same clothes seen in the video. Officers also found a hand-drawn map of the area in his pocket, with a box labeled “T” marking the Tesla dealership.
Federal officials didn’t mince words.
“If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
“This wasn’t a protest. This was arson,” added U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “These attacks against Tesla aren’t about politics—they’re acts of violence. And if you target any business this way, you’ll be held accountable.”
Each charge carries a potential sentence of 5 to 20 years in prison, along with a possible fine of up to $250,000.
Officials from the ATF, FBI, Mesa Police Department, and Maricopa County Attorney’s Office are working the case together. Investigators praised the fast action of Mesa patrol officers and fire investigators, calling their response “crucial” to quickly identifying and apprehending the suspect.
Moses now awaits trial. As always, an indictment is not a conviction, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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