Buffalo Man Sentenced to Five Years for Arson

John W. Burns, a 42-year-old resident of Buffalo, New York, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for committing arson at The Old Pink, a well-known restaurant and bar located at 223 Allen Street in Buffalo. U.

S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara handed down the sentence following Burns' conviction for arson of a building used in interstate commerce, the U.

S. Attorney's Office announced.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of June 17, 2024, when the Buffalo Fire Department responded to a fire at The Old Pink. The building was engulfed in flames and was ultimately destroyed. An investigation by the Buffalo Fire Marshal’s Office determined that the fire was deliberately set.

A blue propane plumber's torch was found at the rear of the building, and video evidence captured an unidentified individual near the fire's origin. This person was seen wearing a dark jacket with an emblem on the left arm and green and white sneakers, and was observed bringing two white garbage bags to the back of the building.

Confrontation and Identification

Prior to the fire, Burns had a confrontation with a former security officer at The Old Pink. The security officer reported that Burns was asked to leave the premises after a female patron complained about inappropriate conduct. During the altercation, Burns allegedly threatened to return and burn the establishment down, stating, "I’ll be back (expletive), I’ll burn that (expletive) down, ain’t nobody going to have a job."

Investigators reviewed security footage from the night of the incident and identified Burns as the individual involved in the confrontation. Two associates of Burns also identified him in the footage as the person walking away from The Old Pink shortly after the fire began. Text messages sent by Burns to one of his associates further implicated him, as he described a fight at The Old Pink and mentioned going into "Guerrilla mode."

Additional Incident at Essex St. Pub

Burns was also involved in another arson incident at the Essex St. Pub, located at 530 Rhode Island Street in Buffalo. On August 13, 2024, Burns was caught on video setting a fire in the pub's parking lot, which was quickly extinguished by the fire department.

The fire originated from a pile of books placed near the owner's personal vehicle. The pub owner identified Burns on video as the person who lit the books on fire, following a text message he received the previous night indicating that Burns had been denied entry due to disruptive behavior.

The case against Burns was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Richard P.

Antoine and was the result of a collaborative investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, the Buffalo Fire Department, and the Buffalo Police Department. The sentencing marks the culmination of efforts by these agencies to bring Burns to justice for his actions.