LITTLE ROCK, Ark — Five Arkansans have been sentenced in connection to fire bombings of multiple police vehicles back in 2020.
According to U.S. District Court Judge D.P Marshall Jr., it was determined on Thursday that all 5 people involved will now serve jail time for the string of incidents that took place beginning in August of 2020.
The sentencings differ in severity and length, with 33-year-old Mujera Benjamin Lung'aho, who authorities have referred to as "the leader of the group," receiving the longest sentence at 5.5 years.
Three other members, 30-year-old Emily Nowlin, 27-year-old Aline A. Espinosa Villegas, and 25-year-old Renea Goddard were all sentenced to 18 months. The final member of the group, 34-year-old Brittany Dawn Jeffrey was sentenced to 17 months.
The sentencings stem from initial fire bombings of several law enforcement vehicles that authorities said happened on August 25, 2020 into August 26, 2020.
Authorities said that on that day, the group of 5 traveled to the Little Rock Police Department 12th Street Substation, where they "broke patrol vehicle windows and slashed tires." The investigation also found that Lung'aho and others tossed Molotov cocktails at LRPD patrol vehicles.
Officers discovered that the Molotov cocktails utilized were made at Jeffrey's home, with gasoline, liquor bottles, and sheets being used.
Judge Marshall said that the group damaged several other law enforcement vehicles, including throwing a Molotov cocktail at an Arkansas State Police vehicle and a North Little Rock Police Department vehicle. The group is also said to have damaged 33 police car tires from multiple departments.
Authorities said these incidents caused "complete destruction" of multiple vehicles through the usage of the Molotov cocktails over a several day span.
Back in September of 2020, Lung'aho was originally charged in a complaint and was later indicted in October of 2020 for charges related to arson. Later in February of 2021, an indictment was returned that added the four other members.
Earlier this year in August, Lung'aho pleaded guilty to arson which stemmed from the fire bombing of the NLRPD police car in Sept. 2020. The other four members pleaded guilty at various points throughout 2022.
According to authorities, Jeffrey had already been previously sentenced while Lung'aho, Goddard, Villegas, and Nowlin were all officially sentenced on Thursday.
“This investigation is an example of ATF working with law enforcement partners and the community to hold persons accountable that choose to engage in violent crime that threatens the safety of our shared community,” said ATF New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “ATF will remain engaged with the law enforcement team and the public to best serve and protect our communities.”