Phoenix, AZ. — A federal grand jury has indicted a Casa Grande man on a hate-crime charge alleging he set fire to a local synagogue earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday.
The indictment, returned Nov. 18, charges Everardo Gregorio, 31, with Obstruction of the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs by Fire for allegedly burning down Khal Chasidim, a synagogue in Casa Grande, on March 3. According to federal prosecutors, the portion of the building destroyed in the blaze included the Jewish community’s worship space as well as an on-site kosher grocery store and restaurant.
Gregorio also faces a parallel arson prosecution by the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, where he is currently awaiting trial.
If convicted on the federal hate-crime count, Gregorio faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The investigation is being led by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Casa Grande Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Goldberg for the District of Arizona in coordination with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Federal officials emphasized that an indictment is an allegation and Gregorio is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The DOJ listed the case under its civil rights enforcement work as Press Release No. 25-1099.
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