An Arizona man who torched a Cybertruck and scorched a Tesla showroom has been handed a five-year prison sentence, the stiffest penalty yet in a wave of anti-Tesla attacks that swept the U.S. last spring.
At a Glance
- Ian William Moses, 35, set fire to a Cybertruck and three Teslas on April 28, 2025
- He received 60 months in federal prison plus 36 months supervised release
- Arrested less than two hours later riding a bicycle near the scene
- Why it matters: The sentence signals zero tolerance for politically charged property attacks amid mounting backlash against Elon Musk’s role in federal cuts
The blaze erupted in the early-morning darkness of April 28, 2025, while Elon Musk was leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiency’s dismantling of federal agencies. Surveillance footage shows Ian William Moses, a Mesa resident, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and mask as he wedged fire-starter logs against the Tesla dealership wall.
Moses doused the logs and three nearby vehicles-including a Cybertruck-with gasoline before setting them ablaze. Flames gutted the Cybertruck and charred the building’s exterior; photos released by the U.S. Department of Justice show twisted metal and soot-blackened walls.
He fled on a bicycle but was nabbed a quarter-mile away within two hours, according to the DOJ press release.
Sentence Reflects ‘Gravity’ of Politically Fueled Attack
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine warned that “arson can never be an acceptable part of American politics,” noting the fire endangered both the public and first responders.
> “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 said.
The 60-month term is the longest imposed in at least five pending federal arson cases tied to Tesla facilities, according to a tally cited by News Of Fort Worth.
Spring 2025 Saw Dozens of Tesla Attacks
The Mesa arson was part of a broader spree that damaged Tesla dealerships, vehicles, and charging stations worldwide last spring. A Fox News count logged:
- 51 incidents inside the U.S.
- 17 incidents abroad
That tally includes everything from keying and graffiti to full-scale arson. Federal prosecutors are handling at least five separate arson prosecutions, with the Arizona case the first to reach sentencing.
Motive Tied to Backlash Against Musk’s Federal Role
Vandals have cited Musk’s high-profile role in slashing federal programs under President Trump. Protesters point to:
- Musk’s embrace of what critics call fascist ideology
- A Nazi-style salute during Trump’s second inauguration
- The shuttering of USAID and other agencies via DOGE, though the entity lacked legal authority to dissolve agencies created by Congress
A tracker maintained by Boston University researchers attributes more than 700,000 deaths to USAID’s destruction, estimating 88 people die every hour as aid programs halt.
Unlike Moses, Musk faces no criminal charges related to the federal overhaul or the resulting mortality spike. Ryan J. Thompson noted that America’s media landscape tends to fixate on dramatic images-like a burning Cybertruck-while humanitarian crises abroad receive less attention.
Key Takeaways
- Ian William Moses’ five-year sentence sets a benchmark for politically motivated property attacks
- The April 2025 arson destroyed a Cybertruck and damaged a Tesla showroom in Mesa, Arizona
- Federal prosecutors vow to treat such acts as serious public-safety threats, not mere vandalism
- Tesla facilities worldwide saw at least 68 incidents last spring amid backlash against Musk’s federal cuts
