Show-Me State Times

U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced Vaely Berry to five years in prison for committing two arsons in St. Louis in 2022 and possessing firearms illegally. Berry, a convicted felon, was found guilty of setting fires on two separate occasions last year.

On July 15, 2022, Berry threw a gasoline-filled bottle onto the roof of a supermarket and grill located in the 8300 block of North Broadway. The resulting fire caused damage to the roof and water damage to the ceiling inside the market. Later that year, on December 8, Berry targeted a liquor store in the 5900 block of Lillian Avenue by throwing two gasoline-filled aluminum bottles onto its roof, causing further damage. Surveillance footage captured Berry during this act.

The investigation into these incidents led to a court-approved search of Berry's residence by a special agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). During this search, authorities discovered a revolver and a shotgun at his home. As a convicted felon, Berry is prohibited from owning firearms.

Berry pleaded guilty in August to charges including two counts of arson and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon in U.S. District Court in St. Louis.

The case was investigated by both the ATF and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware handled the prosecution.