An individual found guilty of arson at a Tesla facility has been sentenced to five years behind bars, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

Ian William Moses, who entered a guilty plea last year, received his sentence on Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa handed down a 60-month prison term, which is the mandatory minimum, followed by three years of supervised release, as detailed in the announcement.

Court documents reveal that surveillance footage captured Moses at a Tesla dealership in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on April 28, 2025. He was dressed in a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, grey pants, black boots, and a black mask. Moses was also seen carrying a red plastic gas can and a black backpack. The video shows him placing fire starter logs next to the dealership building, dousing them, the building, and three Tesla vehicles with gasoline, according to a press release.

At approximately 1:38 a.m., Moses set the starter logs ablaze, resulting in a fire that destroyed a silver Tesla Cybertruck. Video evidence further documents Moses leaving the scene on a dark-colored bicycle shortly after the incident, as noted in the release.

Last year saw a wave of anti-Tesla vandalism, largely in response to the controversial activities of Tesla founder Elon Musk, particularly his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his prominent partnership with President Donald Trump.

Damaged Cybertruck seen in aerial footage. (KSAZ-TV)

“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,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said in a statement.

The wall of the Tesla dealership is seen vandalized with the message “THEIF.” (KSAZ-TV)

“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,” Courchaine noted.