A man who deliberately set several tires on fire on railroad tracks behind a residence in the Village of Farnham in June 2023 will spend time in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced Monday that 34-year-old Michael Benitez of Buffalo has been sentenced to two years and three months behind bars following his conviction on a charge of attempt to wreck, derail, set fire to, or disable railroad on-track equipment. He was also ordered to pay $1,382 in restitution to Norfolk Southern Railway.
An investigation by the FBI, Town of Brant Police Department, and Norfolk Southern Police Department found that on June 14, 2023, Benitez placed several tires on the railroad tracks behind a residence on Railroad Avenue, where he was living at the time. Benitez poured gasoline on the tires and set them on fire. The resulting blaze destroyed equipment owned by Norfolk Southern that's used to identify railroad equipment while en route. Norfolk Southern was required to hold trains while the tire fire was extinguished, and rail equipment was repaired.
