An Avondale man faces federal charges after being indicted for allegedly attempting to set fire to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) property in Surprise, Arizona, in February. Gabriel Mendoza-Acoltzi, 19, was taken into custody on May 7, 2026, following the indictment.
According to court documents, Mendoza-Acoltzi is accused of breaking a window and attempting to ignite the building just after 1 a.m. on February 21, 2026. Surveillance video reportedly captured him placing a propane tank next to the ICE building, using it to break a window, and then employing a long torch connected to the tank to light window shades inside the lobby on fire. Investigators also found a profane anti-ICE message spelled out with landscaping rocks at the scene.
A federal grand jury charged Mendoza-Acoltzi with Malicious Damage to Federal Property and Willful Depredation Against Property of the United States. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael T. Morrissey granted the United States’ request for his detention pending further court proceedings. A conviction for Malicious Damage to Federal Property carries a potential penalty of five to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and the City of Surprise Police and Fire Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan McCarthy and Stephen Marlowe are prosecuting the case. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.