McDonald’s employee sentenced for setting fire because he was frustrated restaurant was busy

SAVANNAH, Ga. (TCN) -- A 34-year-old McDonald’s employee will spend several years in federal prison for setting fire to the restaurant’s dumpster last year.

According to a July 31 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, Joshua McGregor pleaded guilty to arson, and a judge sentenced him to 60 months in prison. McGregor will also have to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution for property lost in the flames.

In April 2023, McGregor, who worked at the McDonald’s on Montgomery Avenue, became "frustrated because the restaurant was very busy." He reportedly lit a piece of cardboard ablaze and threw it into the dumpster. There were other flammable items and cardboard in the trash container at the time, causing a fire to erupt. McGregor allegedly filmed the incident on his cellphone.

According to prosecutors, the flames "became so intense that customers in the drive-thru lane had to back out of the parking lot." The restaurant was closed for a short time as the Savannah Fire Department worked to extinguish the fire.

Investigators identified McGregor as the primary suspect on surveillance video, and Savannah Police took him into custody.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Jill Steinberg said, "Intentionally setting a fire in an effort to shut down or damage someone else’s property is inexcusable."

Beau Kolodka, assistant special agent in charge for the ATF Atlanta Field Division, added, "Arson is an extremely violent crime that not only destroys property but also places firefighters, first responders, and the general public at great risk."

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