Minneapolis man pleads guilty to arson of st. Paul car rental agency during riots

Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty To Arson Of St. Paul Car Rental Agency During Riots

ST. PAUL, MN – United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of MATTHEW SCOTT WHITE, 32, to one count of arson. WHITE, who was arrested and charged on June, 29, 2020, entered his guilty plea today before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea, on May 28, 2020, WHITE entered an Enterprise Rent-A-Car building located in St. Paul, Minnesota. While inside the building, WHITE and a juvenile accomplice maliciously started a fire inside a back office. WHITE fueled the fire by throwing papers and other flammable items onto the flames. On June 3, 2020, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) examined the scene and determined that the fire was caused by arson and originated from within the structure. The Enterprise Rent-A-Car was totally destroyed by the fire.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the St. Paul Police Department, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley M. Endicott.

Defendant Information:

MATTHEW SCOTT WHITE, 32

Minneapolis, Minn.

Convicted:

  • Arson, 1 count
Shore News Network Staff Report

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.