Jamison Wagner, 40, of Albuquerque, was federally indicted on two counts of malicious destruction of property by fire or explosives for his role in arson attacks on the Tesla Albuquerque Showroom and the Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) headquarters.
Politically motivated domestic terrorism is the way some of the incidents have been described, with law enforcement officials being highly critical of them. Wagner, if convicted, could receive 5 to 20 years in federal prison on each charge, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Major Incidents in the Arson Attacks as per DOJ
- Tesla Dealership Firebombing – February 9, 2025
As noted by the criminal complaint, Wagner allegedly stormed the Albuquerque Tesla dealership early yesterday morning with homemade incendiary devices:
•severely damaged a Tesla Model Y. Another vehicle received minor damage to its ignition.
•had improvised napalm in an intact glass jar and included a green metal cap with an informal handwritten letter “I” or “H.”
- The graffiti was red and black and had: “Die Elon,” “Tesla Nazi Inc,” and swastikas.
- Security camera footage showed a tall, mask-wearing suspect who carried a white box later attributed to Wagner.
“These are not protests but dangerous felonies,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, the DOJ reported.
- RPNM Headquarters Firebombing – March 30, 2025
Wagner is also charged with firebombing the New Mexico Republican Party headquarters in Albuquerque by tossing firebombs into the building.
- The firebombs hit the front door and entrance.
- Debris recovered included glass jars and metal lids bearing the same markings at the Tesla crime scene.
- Red spray paint was employed to spray-paint graffiti with “ICE=KKK” on the south wall of the building.
- A Hyundai Accent white, which Wagner was connected to, was spotted arriving and departing the scene following surveillance footage catching a flash.
“This arrest is an important step toward justice,” declared ATF Deputy Director Robert Cekada, in a press release carried by the DOJ.
- Evidence Obtained at Wagner’s Residence – April 12, 2025
During the search of Wagner’s house, FBI and ATF officials removed several items that connected him to both scenes:
• Eight detonated incendiary devices within a white cardboard box
• Blue cartons of Styrofoam eggs, matching the polystyrene used at the Tesla scene
• Red and black spray cans of paint, matching graffiti colors used
• A stencil using the words “ICE=KKK”
• A green lidded can of gingham and other cans with the word “I” or “H”
• Wagner’s 2015 Hyundai Accent with loose plates and taped-over lighting indicating evasive maneuvers
Reaction of Law Enforcement
The attacks were deemed by the police to be domestic terrorism.
“Our community will accept no acts of politically or ideologically motivated violence,” Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin of DOJ stated.
FBI Director Kash Patel reiterated the agency’s national vow to pursue such crimes: “We will find you and we will arrest you.”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi spoke in plain terms: “We will arrest you, we will prosecute you, and we will not negotiate.
Wagner is held in federal detention awaiting a hearing on detention. The case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Nicholas Mote, along with Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the DOJ’s Counterterrorism Section.
For more information, see the complete DOJ Press Release or the Criminal Complaint (PDF).
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