A Massachusetts man was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for placing a lit firebomb at the driveway entrance to an assisted living community in April 2020 and then lying to the FBI about his whereabouts on that day.
The sentence of John Michael Rathbun, 37, also includes three years of supervised release, during which time he is not permitted near Ruth’s House, the Jewish-sponsored assisted living community in Longmeadow, MA, where authorities said Rathbun placed a five-gallon canister of gas at a time when the community was being discussed on online platforms used by white supremacists. Forensic analysis identified Rathbun’s DNA from blood on the canister and on a Christian religious pamphlet used to make a wick, according to the Justice Department.
“There is no way to undo the damage John Rathbun did to the elderly residents of this Jewish assisted living facility, and to the entire community, with his hateful, repulsive and violent behavior. But today’s sentence does hold him accountable for placing a lit firebomb in their path and for lying to us about it,” Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, said in a statement.
After the firebombing incident, Rathbun was charged with attempted arson in April 2020 and was indicted in June 2020. He was charged with making false statements to a federal agent in October 2020.
In November 2020, Rathbun was convicted of making false statements to the FBI when he said he was home on the day of the incident, that he was nor familiar with the location of the incident, and that he had not possessed or seen the fuel canister. At that time, a mistrial was declared after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on the other two counts.
In June 2021, Rathbun was convicted on one count of attempting to transport or receive explosive devices with the knowledge or intent that the device would be used to kill, injure or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy property, as well as one count of attempting to maliciously damage or destroy property via fire or an explosive.
“Mr. Rathbun’s hate-filled and ruthless actions put the entire Longmeadow community at risk,” U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins said Tuesday in a statement. “Today’s sentence sends a powerful message that hate and bigotry have no place in Massachusetts. Everyone deserves to live free of fear and authentically and fully as themselves.”
Ruth’s House is part of the JGS Lifecare healthcare system, which is part of Legacy Lifecare. The JGS campus also includes independent living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, adult day and other services.
