Savannah McDonald’s Employee Sentenced to Five Years for Dumpster Arson

Joshua Daryl McGregor, 34, of Savannah, was sentenced to five years in prison for arson after pleading guilty to setting a fire in a McDonald’s outdoor trash container. The sentencing, delivered by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, includes a 60-month prison term, restitution for property damage, and three years of supervised release following incarceration.

In April 2023, McGregor, an employee at the McDonald’s located at 2701 Montgomery Ave., became frustrated with the busy restaurant and set a piece of cardboard on fire, throwing it into the dumpster filled with flammable materials. The resulting blaze forced customers to evacuate and the restaurant to close temporarily while the fire was extinguished by the Savannah Fire Department. McGregor filmed the fire with his cell phone, and surveillance footage identified him as the perpetrator.

McGregor was arrested by Savannah Police and later pled guilty to arson in U.S. District Court in May. “Intentionally setting a fire in an effort to shut down or damage someone else’s property is inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg. “Joshua McGregor will have substantial time to ponder his post-prison employment options.”

The case was investigated by the Savannah Fire Department, Savannah Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “Arson is an extremely violent crime that not only destroys property but also places firefighters, first responders and the general public at great risk,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the ATF Atlanta Field Division. “The ATF, along with the Savannah Fire’s Arson Unit and our other law enforcement partners, are committed to ensuring that our communities are safe and that those who commit these dangerous acts are held accountable.”

“Savannah Fire’s Arson Unit greatly appreciates our continued ability to work with our local and federal partners to successfully prosecute arson that affects interstate commerce in our jurisdiction,” said Fred Anderson, chief investigator for the Savannah Fire Arson Unit. “These efforts made as a partnership have continued to help make our community safer and greatly reduce the act of arson throughout the city.”

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese prosecuted the case.