A recent incident in Mesa, Arizona, involving a Tesla Cybertruck being set on fire has come to a close with the sentencing of the perpetrator, Ian William Moses, to five years in federal prison. The attack, which occurred in April of last year, targeted a Tesla showroom in the area and resulted in the destruction of a Cybertruck and minor damage to the building.
Court records revealed that Moses placed fire starter logs along the dealership’s exterior wall, poured accelerant on the logs, the building, and nearby Tesla vehicles, before igniting the fire with a lighter. The incident was captured on surveillance cameras, showing Moses spray-painting the word “THIEF” on the building, albeit misspelled as “THEIF.” He was apprehended later that night, still wearing the same clothes seen in the footage, after attempting to flee the scene on a bicycle.
This attack was part of a series of violent incidents targeting Tesla facilities last spring, highlighting the vulnerability of even the safest vehicles to intentional acts of destruction. While the Cybertruck has since been recognized with the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating for 2025, incidents like these serve as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by deliberate acts of arson.
Moses pleaded guilty to federal charges of maliciously damaging property and vehicles in interstate commerce by fire last October. Despite initial labeling of the incident as “domestic terrorism,” no terrorism charges were ultimately filed. The sentencing of Moses to five years in prison marks the conclusion of this case, bringing accountability to those who seek to harm communities and businesses through destructive means.