FLINT – A Flint man was charged today in a criminal complaint with arson and other related offenses for setting fire to St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Charged was Billy Chambers, 63. Chambers appeared in federal court this afternoon and was temporarily detained pending a detention hearing which has been set for Wednesday in Bay City, Michigan. According to the criminal complaint, in the early morning hours of August 30, 2025, St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, Michigan was intentionally set on fire. The incident was captured on St. Mark’s video surveillance cameras and shows a suspect, alleged to be Billy J. Chambers, setting the church on fire. In the video, Chambers brought a gas can wrapped in a black trash bag to the church and used an ignition device to set the church on fire. As a result of the fire damage, St. Mark was unable to hold services at the church for approximately two months.Chambers has been charged with arson, obstruction of persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs and arson to commit a federal offense. Chambers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and maximum sentence up to any term of imprisonment. “This alleged attempt to burn down a church is yet another attack against Christians. But the Department of Justice will protect all Americans and their right to worship without fear,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “Setting fire to a house of worship is a deliberate attack on our community and an assault on one of our most fundamental freedoms in this country,” said ATF Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “Billy Chambers’ alleged actions in this case are deeply disturbing, vile, and completely unacceptable. ATF is committed to protecting our communities from violent crime and will relentlessly pursue those who commit these heinous acts of violence. No one has the right to intimidate, terrorize, or disrupt the free exercise of religion. Those who commit these crimes should most certainly expect justice to be swift and severe.”The investigation is being conducted by agents of the ATF and being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Vance.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice