DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Minnesota

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, June 16, 2021
W. Anders Folk (Acting)
, United States Attorney
Contact: Tasha Zerna

Minneapolis Man Sentenced to Prison for Arson of St. Paul Car Rental Agency

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man was sentenced today to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for arson at a St. Paul car rental agency.

According to court documents, on May 28, 2020, an Enterprise Rent-A-Car building located in St. Paul, Minnesota, was completely destroyed due to arson. Surveillance video footage from cameras located inside and outside of the business showed Matthew Scott White, 31, entering the building and starting a fire in the back office. White fueled the fire by throwing papers and other flammable items onto the flames. As White exited the building, he told bystanders that the building was “going up” meaning, it was going to burn.

Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright sentenced the defendant.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the St. Paul Police Department, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley M. Endicott.

St. Paul Field Division