Jackie Rahm Little, 38, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for setting fires at two Minnesota mosques in April 2023. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. Little pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of arson and one count of damage to religious property.
“In the United States, the desecration of places of worship will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “All Minnesotans should feel safe freely exercising their religion. Little attempted to burn down two mosques. He will now sit in federal prison for his heinous crime.”
Court documents and hearings revealed that on April 23, 2023, Little set a fire inside a bathroom stall at the Masjid Omar Islamic Center in Minneapolis by lighting a cardboard box on fire and leaving it with a gas canister behind after being interrupted by an employee.
The next day, Little went to the Masjid Al-Rahma Mosque (also known as the Mercy Islamic Center) in Bloomington with a container of gasoline or another ignitable liquid. He used it to ignite a fire in the mosque’s third floor hallway and stairwell while community leaders were meeting there about the previous day’s incident. The building was evacuated, including children attending daycare, and damages exceeded $378,000.
Judge Ann Montgomery imposed a sentence above the Sentencing Guidelines recommendation, citing the seriousness of the offense, potential harm to many people, and multiple acts of arson.
The FBI led the investigation into these incidents.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead prosecuted the case.
