Lockport Man Gets 15 Years for Trying to Torch Warehouse

Source from:  November 5, 2007 STNG News Service 11/06/2007

A Lockport man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for the attempted arson of an arcade/dance hall he owned in Joliet. Ernest Myers was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said. On April 11, a jury convicted Myers of attempted arson, but acquitted him of arson and insurance fraud. On May 7, 2001, a warehouse at 28 E. Fourth Ave. in Joliet was burned, ATF said. The warehouse housed an arcade/dance hall business called "Against All Odds," which was owned and managed by Myers. After being open for about three months, Joliet closed "Against All Odds" for violations of business license ordinances, ATF said. On May 5, 2001, Myers and two accomplices entered the warehouse and attempted to burn it with gasoline and natural gas, but the arson attempt was unsuccessful, the release said. The warehouse was again set ablaze on May 7, 2001. No people were injured in connection with the May 5, 2001, incident or the fire two days later. Enditem