Wichita man sentenced for arson spree on local businesses (DOJ)

WICHITA, KAN. - A Kansas man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for setting multiple blazes in Wichita and ordered to pay restitution for causing over $100,000 in property damage to area businesses.

According to court documents, John Banks, 49, of Wichita pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson.

Between May 2024 and July 2024, Banks intentionally set fires to damage and destroy various businesses and other properties in Wichita. While perpetrating some of these crimes he was assisted by co-defendant Marcia A. Ludlow, 44, of Wichita.

• On May 23, 2024, Banks set fire to a commercial property located at 1535 South Washington Street which was under renovation. Banks gained entry by cutting a hole in the fence. Video surveillance showed him forcing his way into the building, removing items, and setting a fire inside the business.
• On May 28, 2024, Banks set a fire at 1346 South Mosley Street which is a commercial property. Banks and Ludlow forced their way into the business and took items before Banks set fire to the property.
• On June 5, 2024, Banks again set a fire at 1535 South Washington. He stole items from vehicles and put the items in the trash. He then set three vehicles ablaze.
• Also that night, Banks went to a neighboring business at 1527 South Washington and set fire to a building and a company vehicle. The vehicle fire self-extinguished, but Banks came back and reignited the fire.
• On July 8, 2024, Banks set a fire at 245 South Laura Street. Banks cut a hole in a chain link fence, entered the property, and broke into vehicles and trailers. Banks then set fire to one of the trailers, and this fire spread to a nearby building.

"Banks committed these arsons with the intention of destroying evidence from his underlying burglary crimes," said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. "Arson is a particularly dangerous crime because it not only threatens those inside the structures but also the emergency personnel who respond to fires, which can spread easily to other buildings and get completely out of control. Thankfully, no one was injured in these crimes. The perpetrator will be serving a lengthy prison sentence."

Marcia Ludlow was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to misprision of a felony.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Wichita Police Department (WPD), and Wichita Fire Department (WFD) investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi prosecuted the case.

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