A Brainerd man was sentenced to four years in federal prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to helping set fire to a Minneapolis police station during demonstrations over the death of George Floyd.
Dylan Shakespeare Robinson, 23, was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and a $12 million restitution for damages caused by the precinct fire in May 2020. Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of arson conspiracy in December.
According to a criminal indictment, Robinson is accused of lighting a Molotov cocktail thrown at the Third Precinct headquarters. Robinson and others are also accused of tearing down a fence that enclosed the building.
“On the night of May 28, 2020, Mr. Robinson chose to break from lawful protest and instead engage in violence and destruction,” said Acting US Attorney Anders Folk in a statement.
“The arson at the Third Precinct of the Minneapolis Police Department endangered lives and contributed to widespread lawlessness in Minneapolis,” he said. “Arson, being inherently violent, is a serious crime that put many of our community members at risk, and it cannot be tolerated.”
Michael Paul, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis field office, said, “The danger posed by the defendant, in this case, was very real.” He continued, “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message—regardless of motivation when someone is intent on conducting a violent act that breaks federal law, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will move assertively to hold them accountable. This type of behavior puts public servants and our entire community in danger, and we simply will not let it go unaddressed.”
Co-conspirators Bryce Michael Williams, 27, Davon De-Andre Turner, 25, and Branden Michael Wolfe, 23, have all pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit arson for their roles in the arson at the Third Precinct building.
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