U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney
Eastern District of Missouri

Eastern District of Missouri

www.justice.gov/usao/moe

For Immediate Release

December 13, 2011

Sikeston Man Pleads Guilty to Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence

The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that ROBERT E. GIPSON, age
59, pled guilty to one felony count of Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence. He appeared
before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr.

On December 31, 2010, a police informant contacted the Sikeston Department of Public
Safety stating that Gipson had asked him to burn a rental home that was owned by Gipson
located on Ruth Street in Sikeston, Missouri. Gipson promised to pay the informant $5,000 from
the insurance proceeds after he burned the home.

On January 4, 2011, the informant and Gipson met to arrange the final details for burning
the home. Gipson provided the informant with two cans of diesel fuel to start the fire. Gipson
was arrested at that time and admitted in an interview with authorities that he solicited the
informant to burn the residence.

Gipson now faces a maximum punishment of ten years imprisonment and a $250,000
fine. Sentencing has been set for March 12, 2012.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
and the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Keith D. Sorrell
is handling the prosecution for the Government.

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