Federal authorities have unsealed charges against Ronald Watson, also known as Sarah Watson, Miranda Kyle, and Emily Smith, in connection with an arson and destruction of government property incident at the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in downtown Atlanta during the summer of 2020.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated, “The right to peacefully protest never excuses acts of violence, like smashing windows and attempting to set fire to a government building. Anyone who perpetrates or threatens violence against federal officers or property must be identified, found, and held accountable.”
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown added, “The First Amendment does not allow individuals to commit arson or destroy property. The FBI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of our communities while respecting individuals’ First Amendment rights.”
Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Georgia and Alabama said, “Those who attack our government institutions with fire and violence will be held accountable. Setting fire to a government building is not only an attack on bricks and mortar—it is an attack on the rule of law and the safety of our communities. Homeland Security Investigations, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue those who endanger lives and destroy public property. HSI remains committed to protecting the people, safeguarding government facilities, and ensuring that justice is served.”
According to court documents cited by U.S. Attorney Hertzberg’s office: On July 25, 2020—shortly before midnight—a crowd gathered outside the ICE facility in Atlanta for a protest near a fenced area. Several masked individuals wearing dark clothing breached security fences and vandalized the building using rocks, cinder blocks, modified fireworks, Molotov cocktails filled with lighter fluid bottles among other materials. The damage exceeded $78,000.
Law enforcement officers discovered blood near a broken window inside the facility along with a lighter fluid bottle next to an unexploded Molotov cocktail.
Investigators identified Watson as a suspect based on evidence collected after his January 2023 felony conviction for assaulting a public safety officer in Oregon.
Before this incident at the ICE building occurred Watson had posted anti-ICE messages on social media platforms—including one depicting an ICE agent about to be struck by a baseball bat—and claimed online involvement in actions such as throwing bricks and doxxing people.
Authorities remind that these are charges only; Watson is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) together with Homeland Security Investigations are leading this investigation.
Officials urge anyone with information regarding Watson’s whereabouts or details that could lead to his arrest to contact the FBI via tips.fbi.gov or by calling 800-CALL-FBI. A reward up to $10,000 is being offered for information resulting in his location or arrest.
For more information about this case or related matters from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
