A suspicious fire in the early hours of Monday has landed Ian Moses, 35, at the center of a growing federal case involving vandalism and alleged domestic terrorism.
According to Fox News, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Tuesday that Moses now faces federal charges after allegedly setting a brand-new Tesla Cybertruck ablaze in Mesa, Arizona.
Authorities say Moses not only torched the vehicle but also spray-painted the word “THEIF” — a misspelling of "thief" — on the exterior of the Tesla dealership where the fire occurred.
The incident unfolded just before 2 a.m. Monday outside the Tesla Service Center in Mesa. Officers with the Mesa Police Department responded to reports of flames and smoke and discovered a Cybertruck engulfed in fire.
Video footage from local outlet KSAZ-TV captured emergency responders cordoning off the area as the scorched remains of the vehicle were secured. No injuries were reported, but the attack sparked a swift investigation and raised concerns over escalating acts of protest against Elon Musk's companies. Moses was quickly identified through surveillance images and was located near a suspicious van close to the scene. He was initially charged with arson of a structure and property before federal charges were announced.
Attorney General Bondi made her position clear in a post shared Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter. She emphasized that the Department of Justice would pursue full legal action without compromise. Bondi wrote on X:
If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. No negotiating. The arson adds to a series of violent acts that have recently targeted Tesla vehicles and infrastructure. Federal investigators are looking into whether these incidents are connected.
The Tesla fire in Arizona comes just over a week after another major incident involving Elon Musk’s brand. On April 18, a college student on spring break allegedly firebombed a Missouri Tesla dealership.
FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the Missouri attack, calling such actions “dangerous” and “illegal.” Patel stated in a DOJ release: "We will work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes."
Federal officials suspect the incidents are part of broader protests against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency closely associated with Musk’s expanding influence in the federal sector. Although Moses’ exact motive has not been officially confirmed, investigators are treating the case with heightened seriousness due to its potential ties to domestic extremism.
The destruction of a new Cybertruck — one of Tesla’s most high-profile vehicles — has put the spotlight on politically motivated acts of vandalism. Authorities are continuing to analyze evidence retrieved from the scene, including security footage and forensic material from the van located near Moses.
AG Bondi’s public remarks also signaled the Biden administration’s intention to treat anti-government tech protests as serious federal crimes. The Tesla brand, particularly its newer models like the Cybertruck, has increasingly become a target for demonstrators critical of Musk’s perceived role in federal policy and digital infrastructure.
Ian Moses, accused of torching a Tesla Cybertruck and vandalizing a dealership in Mesa, now faces federal charges under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s directive. Authorities responded early Monday morning to the scene, identifying Moses nearby and linking him to the attack through surveillance footage and physical evidence. His case has gained national attention amid rising anti-Tesla incidents across the country. The Department of Justice, working with local authorities and the FBI, is preparing its next legal steps, with Bondi stressing there will be no leniency for what she described as domestic terrorism.
