Sam Cohen FOX40 News KTXL-LTV

1:44 p.m. AKST, February 3, 2011
SACRAMENTO COUNTY—
A man is now facing federal arson charges in connection with the fire that destroyed part of the Roseville Galleria mall.

The federal grand jury returned their indictment Thursday against 23-year-old Alexander Piggee.

Piggee is accused of starting a small fire at a WalMart on Antelope Road on the morning of October 21st, then later that afternoon starting another fire inside a GameStop store at the Galleria mall. Although the fire at the WalMart was relatively small, damage at the Galleria mall is expected to top $55 million.

Piggee is now being held in the Placer County jail on arson and other charges just from the Galleria fire. He will be transferred into federal custody after the Placer County charges are dismissed.

In the release from U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner, he says it was determined after talking with officials from Placer and Sacramento Counties that a federal prosecution in this case was appropriate.

If found guilty of the federal arson charges, Piggee could face anywhere from 5 to 20 years for each count.