Huntsville Homeowner Allegedly Orchestrated Racist Graffiti, Deadly Arson, to Get Insurance Money

A man who alleged a hate crime at his property in 2023 has been detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Agents with the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Mario Roberson Thursday morning.

Mario Roberson was booked into the Harris County jail Wednesday and is being held without bond on a felony arson warrant out of San Jacinto County.

Roberson is accused of playing a role in the fire at his rental home that killed two men. https://t.co/JdMhZn9p0A pic.twitter.com/lpJ05QAtyS

— Mycah Hatfield (@MycahABC13) December 28, 2023

Roberson is facing twelve charges linked to a June 2023 deadly arson at his rental property in Huntsville, and could possibly spend his life in prison.

ABC13 first reported on Roberson in May 2023 after he claimed racist graffiti had been spray-painted on the home. He implied alleged racism in the neighborhood’s HOA was to blame for the incident, which he went on to speak about in a press conference.

An unsealed federal indictment alleges Roberson orchestrated both the graffiti and deadly arson in a bungled attempt to collect insurance money. The document states Roberson allegedly hired a relative to carry out the arson, who enlisted two other men to assist.

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Two of the three men, including Roberson’s relative, were killed in the purported arson attempt. The third man ran from the home on fire.

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