ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando man has been indicted on charges of arson that resulted in personal injuries at a soccer match at Inter&Co Stadium, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO) has announced.
Giovanni Isai Ramirez Reyes, 37, of Orlando, is accused of lighting two flares and throwing them into a crowd during a match on February 24, 2024. According to court documents, the flares caused a larger fire that damaged the stadium and burned a child attending the event.
If convicted, Mr Ramirez Reyes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and up to 40 years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Orlando Police Department, and the Orlando Fire Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate is prosecuting it.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.