Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Burning Commercial Establishment

Greenbelt, Maryland - A Maryland man pled guilty to arson in federal court, today, stemming from an incident in which he set fire to a commercial building.

Shawn Justice, 38, of Avenue, pled guilty to one count of arson.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Caroll H. Spriggs, II, Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal.

According to his guilty plea, on October 29, 2025, Justice entered Pasha Lounge, a bar and Hookah establishment in Waldorf, Maryland, through the front door and went to a humidor. Justice then went inside of the humidor where he scattered cigars on the ground, poured liquor over them, lit a paper towel roll on fire, and then tossed the flaming paper-towel roll on the floor littered with alcohol-soaked cigars. The humidor burst into flames, resulting in the lounge incurring more than $80,000 in losses.

Justice faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for arson. U.S. District Judge Theodore J. Chuang scheduled sentencing for Friday, Mar. 5, 2027, at 2:30 p.m.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal for their work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Treiger who is prosecuting this case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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