Buffalo man arrested for alleged role in The Old Pink fire

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A Buffalo man is facing federal charges for his role in the fire on June 17 that destroyed The Old Pink in the city's Allentown neighborhood.

40-year-old John Burns has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with maliciously damaging and destroying, and attempt to damage and destroy by means of fire, a building and real property used in interstate commerce, and in activity affecting interstate commerce, namely a restaurant and bar.

If convicted, Burns' sentence carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison.

According to assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Antoine, who's handling the case, Burns was at the restaurant and bar on June 17 and had a confrontation with another individual formerly contracted to work security for The Old Pink.

Following that confrontation, Burns left the bar and told the former security guard he would return to "burn that bitch down" and "ain’t nobody going to have a job."

Approximately two hours later, the restaurant was engulfed in flames.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement obtained video evidence, which shows an individual setting the building on fire. Burns is identified by witnesses as the individual in the video.

"Arson is an extremely dangerous crime, placing lives and property in danger," stated United States Attorney Trini Ross. "Arson has tremendous ripple effects, leaving people homeless, without employment, or both. Here, the arson of The Old Pink left employees without jobs and destroyed an iconic gathering place in the Buffalo community. Such harm to our community will not be tolerated. My office will continue to investigate and prosecute all persons who commit arson, and other federal crimes, that negatively impact the Western District of New York."

Burns was scheduled for an Initial Appearance on the criminal complaint on Friday afternoon before Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder.

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane released the following statement on the arrest made in The Old Pink arson:

"As a result of a collaborative multi-agency investigation, a criminal complaint has been filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western New District of New York in the arson of the 'Old Pink'.

"This fire destroyed a beloved tavern in the city’s Allentown neighborhood, threatened nearby homes and businesses, risked the lives of responding firefighters, left several people unemployed, and saddened countless patrons.

"I commend our local and federal law enforcement partners for their diligent work on this case, including members of the Buffalo Fire Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Buffalo Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of New York, as well as Chief Patrick B. Shanahan and Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Garvey of the Erie County District Attorney’s Office."