Second arrest in grocery-store arson

By Jennifer Sullivan
Times Snohomish County bureau

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Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Miyake said a federal grand jury last week indicted Naveed Khan on charges of arson and conspiracy to commit arson.

Miyake said Naval Criminal Investigative Service arrested Khan in Everett yesterday and brought him to the courthouse, where he was taken into custody by agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

According to the ATF, Khan was offered $2,000 to set fire to the Continental Spices Cash & Carry. Khan, who is stationed at Naval Station Everett, declined the money.

Khan wanted to help his friend, Mirza Akram, 37, who was in the process of buying the store, according to charging papers. Overwhelmed by debt and low sales, Akram decided to go ahead with the arson with the hope of collecting insurance money, according to court papers. The fire was made to look like a hate crime, investigators say.

Khan entered the store at about 4 a.m. July 9 and dropped lighted incense into a puddle of gasoline on the floor, which apparently was left by Akram, according to court papers. The fire immediately caused the man's pant leg to catch on fire as he ran from the store, according to court papers.

After the fire, police and firefighters found a gasoline can and a derogatory message directed toward Arabs spray-painted on a wall. A white cross was spray-painted on a refrigerator in the back of the store.

Nobody was injured, but the fire caused about $50,000 in damage to the store at 315 E. Casino Road that specializes in Pakistani, Indian and Middle Eastern groceries. Neighboring stores sustained some damage as well.

When Khan went to visit Akram about a month after the fire, Akram threatened to kill him if he told authorities what had happened, according to court papers.

Miyake said Khan appeared before a federal magistrate yesterday to be read his formal charges. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Miyake said Khan is going through a Navy discharge proceeding unrelated to the arson charges. Navy officials yesterday declined to comment.
 
Akram was arrested Aug. 19 and has been charged with arson and conspiracy to commit arson.

Jennifer Sullivan: 425-783-0604