Latest news with #Purifoy
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Rockford restaurant owner faces federal arson charges for fire that destroyed his business
The owner of a popular burger stand that was destroyed by fire faces federal arson charges. On Tuesday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging that James Purifoy, 50, "maliciously damaged and destroyed, by means of fire and explosive materials, a building at 201 15th Ave. in Rockford, Illinois." The building was known as 15th & Chris, a business Purifoy owned and operated from July 2014 until the night of the fire, Jan. 22, 2023. In the days following the fire, Purifoy — through his attorney Elder Granger II — claimed he was attacked by three men wearing hoodies who beat him and knocked him unconscious before they set his business on fire and left him for dead. More: Rockford restaurant 15th and Chris demolished a year after fire Purifoy escaped the fire, Granger said, and was attempting to drive home to check on his family when police found him passed out in his vehicle. Granger said Purifoy was badly injured, suffering third-degree burns on 25% of his body. Granger said Purifoy was being threatened by a Mexican drug cartel and that in the weeks leading up to the fire, his client received emails and text messages demanding money. The fire was under investigation for more than two years by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rockford Fire Department and the Rockford Police Department. If convicted, Purifoy faces 5 to 20 years in federal prison. An arraignment is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 27 at the Stanley J. Roszkowski United States Courthouse in Rockford. More: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the Register Star app Corina Curry is the editor of the Rockford Register Star. She can be reached at ccurry@ This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford restaurant owner faces arson charges in 2023 fire
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Rockford restaurant owner faces federal arson charges for fire that destroyed his business
The owner of a popular burger stand that was destroyed by fire faces federal arson charges. On Tuesday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging that James Purifoy, 50, "maliciously damaged and destroyed, by means of fire and explosive materials, a building at 201 15th Ave. in Rockford, Illinois." The building was known as 15th & Chris, a business Purifoy owned and operated from July 2014 until the night of the fire, Jan. 22, 2023. In the days following the fire, Purifoy — through his attorney Elder Granger II — claimed he was attacked by three men wearing hoodies who beat him and knocked him unconscious before they set his business on fire and left him for dead. More: Rockford restaurant 15th and Chris demolished a year after fire Purifoy escaped the fire, Granger said, and was attempting to drive home to check on his family when police found him passed out in his vehicle. Granger said Purifoy was badly injured, suffering third-degree burns on 25% of his body. Granger said Purifoy was being threatened by a Mexican drug cartel and that in the weeks leading up to the fire, his client received emails and text messages demanding money. The fire was under investigation for more than two years by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rockford Fire Department and the Rockford Police Department. If convicted, Purifoy faces 5 to 20 years in federal prison. An arraignment is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 27 at the Stanley J. Roszkowski United States Courthouse in Rockford. More: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the Register Star app Corina Curry is the editor of the Rockford Register Star. She can be reached at ccurry@ This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford restaurant owner faces arson charges in 2023 fire
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
Pensacola man charged in dog fighting case
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) — A man from Pensacola faces a number of charges in an alleged dog fighting case. According to a Facebook post, Escambia County Deputies arrested 32-year-old Jerney Purifoy Friday afternoon. The post says the sheriff's office SWAT team executed a search warrant on a home and found 'evidence of dog fighting to include IV bags, wound care paraphernalia, training manuals, a rifle and a handgun.' Images also show a number of dog kennels on the property. The dogs have been seized by Escambia County Animal Welfare. The post says the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office. Jail records say Purifoy was booked into jail Friday afternoon and released on bond four hours later. The post did not say how many dogs were taken. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
