Jason Mattis, a 51-year-old from Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for using a destructive device to start a fire at a residence in Northeast Philadelphia. United States District Court Judge Gerald J. Pappert delivered the sentence following Mattis's conviction for possessing an unregistered destructive device.
The event was a result of Mattis lighting an incendiary device, akin to a Molotov cocktail, and throwing it onto a porch in the Tacony area on July 1, 2022. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the device used was classified as an incendiary bomb under federal law. The action caused a fire on the porch and extended to the sidewalk and street.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf emphasized the gravity of the crime, pointing out the threat it posed to the victims and the community. "It's tough to understate the seriousness of a crime like this, which put the victims, their home, and their neighborhood at risk," he said, highlighting Mattis's extensive criminal history.
Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division, recognized the potential danger the family faced. "It is remarkable that this family was able to escape with their lives when Mattis set their home ablaze," said DeGree, noting the ongoing efforts of the ATF-led Philadelphia Arson and Explosives Task Force to pursue justice and ensure community safety.
Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey W. Thompson praised the collaborative investigative efforts of multiple agencies, stating, "This type of skilled investigative work and interagency cooperation makes our city safer."
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel also stressed the broader risks of such violent acts and affirmed the commitment to hold perpetrators accountable. "Violent acts like these endanger not just the intended target, but entire communities," he said.
The case's investigation involved cooperation among the ATF’s Arson and Explosives Task Force, the Philadelphia Fire Department, and the Philadelphia Police Department, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert.
