The Brief
- Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, is scheduled for arraignment today for allegedly setting a six-alarm fire at an Ontario distribution center.
- Federal prosecutors claim Abdulkarim recorded himself starting the blaze and sent messages boasting about the damage, which is estimated at $500 million.
- The suspect, an employee of the facility’s logistics provider, faces up to 20 years in federal prison in addition to potential life-term state charges.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. – An Inland Empire man charged with setting a massive six-alarm fire that destroyed a Kimberly-Clark distribution center in Ontario is due in court Monday for his arraignment.
What we know:
On April 9, federal prosecutors filed charges against Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland. According to an affidavit filed with the federal complaint, Abdulkarim—an employee of NFI Industries, the logistics provider for the facility—recorded himself during the act.…