ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – The man charged with setting fire to his own business pleads guilty in federal court Tuesday.
James Purifoy, 51, was indicted in May 2025 for the January 2023 arson at 15th and Chris, 201 15th Avenue. He previously pleaded not guilty in the case.
The fire at the former burger joint broke out around 8 p.m. Jan. 22, 2023, with reports of flames coming out of the building on Rockford’s south side. Firefighters said they found heavy fire pushing from the back of the building which was not open for business at the time. Crews were able to get the blaze under control before it spread to a nearby food truck…