Indiana Woman Indicted for Arson Threat
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 30, 2011 |
An Indianapolis woman was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for charges stemming from a racially motivated threat to burn a house in September 2009, the Justice Department announced today.
Sheryl Small, 48, was charged with one count of interfering with the housing rights of another. According to the indictment, Small threatened to burn a home that two African-American women were preparing to rent. The home was set on fire approximately six weeks later. The investigation into the arson is ongoing.
If convicted, Small faces a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI's Indianapolis Field Office investigated this case. The case will be prosecuted by Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Betsy Biffl.
The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.