Chatham County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Arson

Marvin Antwon Williams, a 44-year-old man from Savannah, has been sentenced to nearly 13 years in federal prison for setting fires in the city, according to Jill E. Steinberg, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Williams pleaded guilty to Arson and was sentenced to 151 months in prison by U.S District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker. Upon completion of his prison term, he will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Fires in an urban area are highly dangerous and potentially devastating to nearby residents,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Fortunately, the Savannah Fire Department’s fast response prevented greater harm, and Marvin Williams is now being held accountable for his criminal acts.”

The incidents occurred on the evening of April 10, 2022, when Savannah firefighters responded to fires at a vacant home under renovation on 39th Street. Investigators discovered that Williams had been staying in the residence without authorization from the owner.

Williams, who has a history of criminal convictions, including multiple crimes of violence or controlled substance offenses, was designated as a career offender. He pleaded guilty in February in U.S. District Court to one count of Arson.

“Arson is an extremely violent crime that not only destroys property but also places firefighters, first responders, and the public at great risk,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Fred Anderson, Chief Investigator for the Savannah Fire Arson Unit, expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort in the investigation, stating, “Arson is a serious crime that affects the entire community. I’m happy that we were able to remove this arsonist from the community and ensure he will not be able to set any more fires and put more lives in danger.”

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit, and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Z. Spitulnik.