A man employed at a distribution facility in Ontario, California, has been charged with setting a massive fire that destroyed a warehouse and caused significant financial losses. Authorities allege the blaze was motivated by a protest against economic inequality and insufficient wages.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson announced that 42-year-old Abdulkarim Abdulkarim faces one count of aggravated arson and six counts of arson of a structure. If convicted on all charges, he could be sentenced to 10 years to life in prison. The fire, which broke out on the morning of April 10, resulted in the destruction of approximately $500 million worth of paper products and a $150 million warehouse, according to Anderson.

Firefighters responding to the scene reported extremely rapid fire growth that forced them to withdraw and engage in a defensive strategy using high-volume hoses. The conflagration intensified to a six-alarm fire and involved about 175 firefighters. The building's roof collapsed as the fire spread, raising concerns about risks to personnel and local residents.

Abdulkarim was taken into custody later the same day. He was employed by NFI Industries, a third-party logistics company handling Kimberly-Clark goods at the facility. Prosecutors say Abdulkarim communicated his motivations for the fire through text messages. In one message, he allegedly wrote that the act was meant as a message to the wealthiest one percent and as a demand for fairer compensation for workers. He also suggested that shareholders did not share the labor burdens faced by employees.

The U.S. attorney’s office for the Central District of California cited these messages to illustrate the defendant’s intent, characterizing the fire as a form of retaliation over wages and perceived economic injustice.

In response, Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Essayli emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting the country’s economic system. “Anyone who attacks our values, our way of life, our system, which provides the best goods and services to the most people, we’re gonna come after aggressively,” he said.

District Attorney Anderson described the incident as particularly perplexing, noting the absence of any apparent benefit to the suspect beyond disruption and damage. “Arson to me is a real head-scratcher,” Anderson said. “I do not understand somebody who is suspected of arson doing something where they get no value out of it, other than to displace people from their jobs, to ruin commerce, to get in the way of labor, to put people in physical harm.”

State authorities plan to pursue charges against Abdulkarim first, while federal involvement continues to be assessed. The investigation remains active as officials seek to determine the full scope of the incident and any additional risks posed to the community.