EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - A man from Belleville, Illinois, admitted in federal court on Monday to starting a fire at a gas station in Lebanon.

Court records say that 33-year-old Carlos Rodriguez visited a CC Food Mart during the evening of Sept. 10, 2018.

Prosecuting attorneys from the Southern District of Illinois say Rodriguez set fire to a plastic air freshener that was mounted on the wall in the men’s bathroom. After setting the fire, Rodriguez exited the bathroom and left the gas station.

Customers and employees would eventually be alerted to the smoke and fire. Firefighters who responded to the incident say the gas station sustained $6,000 in damages.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of arson against real property used in interstate commerce. His conviction carries a minimum of

See Full Page