NY Building Superintendent Gets Prison For Trying To Set Fire With Tenants Inside: DA

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — A local man who was convicted of trying to set an occupied apartment building on fire has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Lorgio Hernandez-Quevedo, 69, was serving as the building’s superintendent at the time, according to the Office of the Dutchess County District Attorney.

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A Dutchess County Court jury convicted Hernandez-Quevedo in June of second-degree attempted arson. During the trial, jurors reviewed evidence which included witness testimony and surveillance footage.

After he serves the 15 year sentence, Hernandez-Quevedo will be on post-release supervision for an additional five years.

Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi said the sentence imposed Tuesday reflects the “extraordinary danger” posed by the defendant’s actions.

According to Parisi, the incident put innocent lives at risk and inflicted fear on the victims.

“Had this fire taken hold, the consequences could have been catastrophic,” Parisi said.

The incident happened on April 18, 2025 at 2 Rose St. in Poughkeepsie.

According to prosecutors, Hernandez-Quevedo poured gasoline down the stairs leading to the basement apartment and then tried to ignite it with a lighter. Prosecutors said he next poured gasoline around the exterior of the building, onto a large sheet of plywood attached to the front of the residence, and into an air conditioning unit serving the basement apartment.

At the time, four residents were inside the building, including two tenants in the basement apartment and two tenants in a third-floor apartment. Two dogs were also inside the basement apartment, prosecutors said. The basement tenants immediately contacted 911.

At the sentencing, Judge Jessica Segal commented that the defendant had shown no remorse and accepted no responsibility for his actions, according to the District Attorney’s office.