A Georgia fugitive accused of setting ablaze an ICE building during the 2020 riots is now facing new federal charges, with the FBI indicating he might be using women’s clothing as a disguise.
Federal charges were revealed Thursday against Ronald Scott Watson, a 28-year-old convicted felon from Kennesaw, Georgia, who is also known by the aliases Sarah Watson, Miranda Kyle, and Emily Smith, as per the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Watson faces charges of arson and damaging government property related to a summer 2020 incident at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in downtown Atlanta, as stated by the DOJ.
The suspect was convicted in January 2023 of felony assault of a public safety officer in Oregon. (DOJ)
Paul Brown, FBI Atlanta special agent in charge, added the First Amendment does not allow individuals to commit arson or destroy property.
Steven Schrank, the special agent leading Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama, emphasized that those targeting government entities with fire and violence will be pursued and held responsible.
“Igniting a government structure is not merely an assault on its physical components—it represents an assault on the framework of law and the security of our communities,” Schrank noted in a statement.
The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for Ronald Watson’s arrest. (DOJ)
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Watson’s arrest.
Authorities reported Watson has connections to Portland, Oregon, and Atlanta, Georgia, and “might have altered his look and could be wearing women’s clothing.”
Watson should be considered armed and dangerous, according to the FBI.
