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Ontario warehouse arson suspect facing federal charges
Chamel Abdulkarim faces federal and state charges for allegedly burning down an Ontario warehouse, reportedly invoking the name of Luigi Mangione in his messages.
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - Federal prosecutors have filed charges against an Inland Empire man for allegedly setting the massive six-alarm fire that destroyed a 1.2 million-square-foot Kimberly-Clark distribution center in Ontario earlier this week, causing an estimated $500 million in damage.
What we know:
Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland, was charged in a federal criminal complaint late Thursday with arson of a building used in interstate and foreign commerce.
This federal filing comes as Abdulkarim is also expected to be arraigned on state criminal charges Monday in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
According to an affidavit filed with the federal complaint, Abdulkarim—an employee of NFI Industries, the logistics provider for the facility—recorded himself during the act.
Chamel Abdulkarim (Ontario Police Department) (Ontario Police Department)
In the video, recorded early Tuesday morning, Abdulkarim is allegedly seen setting fire to multiple pallets of paper goods inside the warehouse.
On the recording, he reportedly states, "If you’re not going to pay us enough to [expletive] live or afford to live, at least pay us enough not to do this [expletive]."
The Justice Department further alleges that Abdulkarim sent text messages and made phone calls boasting about the destruction. "I just cost these [expletive] billions," one message allegedly read. Another stated, "All you had to do was pay us enough to live... Didn’t see the shareholders picking up a shift."
He was arrested two miles from the scene, shortly after the six-alarm fire forced 175 firefighters into a defensive battle against the inferno.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Kimberly-Clark employee detained on suspicion of arson after massive Ontario warehouse fire
The building, which housed essential household goods like Kleenex and Cottonelle, suffered a total roof collapse and is considered a complete loss.
What we don't know:
While the video and text messages point toward a dispute over wages and working conditions, investigators have not yet confirmed a motive.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Kimberly-Clark Ontario facility destroyed in arson fire; employee in custody
The specific method used to ignite the paper goods remains under investigation, as do the full details of Abdulkarim’s social media activity and digital footprint leading up to the Tuesday morning fire.
Authorities have not clarified if others are being investigated for failing to report the suspect's alleged social media posts and text messages in the hours immediately following the start of the fire.
Timeline:
Tuesday, April 7: The fire broke out at 12:30 a.m. More than 170 firefighters responded as the roof collapsed. Abdulkarim was arrested two miles from the scene later that morning.
Thursday, April 9: The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal criminal complaint following an investigation by the FBI and ATF.
Friday, April 10: DOJ charges Abdulkarim with deliberately setting fire that destroyed Ontario warehouse.
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Warehouse in Ontario burns down
An employee is accused of starting a massive warehouse fire in Ontario.
Monday, April 13: Abdulkarim will be arraigned on state charges in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
What they're saying:
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the charges of aggravated arson, a high-level felony reflecting the scale of the destruction.
Ontario police highlighted the collaborative effort in the manhunt, noting that fire personnel from multiple agencies acted rapidly to control the spread while investigators followed "community tips" to find Abdulkarim.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Employee suspected of arson in Ontario warehouse fire
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Ontario warehouse arson suspect to face federal, state charges
Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, of Highland, is charged with arson of a building used in interstate and foreign commerce and used in activities affecting interstate and foreign commerce. The federal complaint was filed late Thursday.
Kimberly-Clark previously stated that they are working with logistics providers "to maintain continuity for customers" despite the total loss of the warehouse.
What's next:
Abdulkarim remains in custody without bail at the West Valley Detention Center. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday, April 13.
If convicted on the federal charges alone, he faces up to 20 years in prison; the state's aggravated arson charge could carry additional significant life-term implications depending on the sentencing guidelines.
Kimberly-Clark has indicated it will provide more detailed information on the financial impact during its quarterly update on April 28.
The Source: This report is based on federal criminal complaints filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and an accompanying affidavit from investigators with the FBI and ATF. Information regarding the fire response and local legal proceedings was gathered from the Ontario Police Department, the San Bernardino County Superior Court, and direct statements provided by Kimberly-Clark, as well as previous FOX 11 reports.