Federal Charges for Arizona Man in ICE Facility Vandalism Case
An Arizona man is in hot water, facing federal charges for reportedly vandalizing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Prosecutors allege he even tried to use a propane tank and a torch to set the building ablaze.
Gerald Mendoza Accorzi, from Avondale, was indicted by a federal grand jury, and the charges include malicious damage to federal property and intentional destruction of U.S. property. Court documents reveal he allegedly shattered a window at the ICE facility around 1 a.m. on February 21, 2026, and attempted to ignite something inside.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows Accorzi arriving at the facility just before midnight, unloading a propane tank at the entrance. Later, he allegedly returned, broke a window with that same tank, and used a torch attached to it to light blinds inside.
Federal investigators indicated that Accorzi even placed stones outside to convey anti-ICE messages before leaving the scene.
He was taken into custody on May 7 and soon made his first court appearance. Notably, the FBI had been looking into significant damage at this ICE storage facility, which had also been vandalized with anti-law enforcement slogans and had windows smashed.
If found guilty, Accorzi might face considerable prison time. Attempted arson on federal property carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years, along with additional penalties for property damage.
The incident in Arizona is part of a broader context, as tensions around immigration enforcement and border security continue to escalate. Authorities are increasingly concerned about threats against immigration enforcement facilities and personnel nationwide.
This situation comes on the heels of another attempted arson involving a Department of Defense office building in Meridian, Idaho. In that case, suspects allegedly stole an ambulance to attempt the attack, but fortunately, officers were able to intervene before any significant damage was done.
Accorzi’s charges are still allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
