Lawrenceville Man Charged with Setting Fire to Wilkinsburg Duplex

PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of Malicious Destruction of Property, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady, announced today.

The one-count Indictment returned on November 17, 2020, named Lawrence Attisano, age 34, of Pittsburgh's Lawrencville neighborhood, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, on or about July 16, 2020, Attisano set fire to the duplex located at 421-423 Lamar Avenue in Wilkinsburg. The occupants of the two residences were able to escape without injury.

Attisano faces a maximum sentence of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s office conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.