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D.A. Hynes secures conviction of Bensonhurst arsonist

March 14, 2013 Denise Romano

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The Bensonhurst arsonist who killed five of his neighbors in 2010 was convicted in the incident on Tuesday, March 12.

The conviction was announced by Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes. The prosecutor was A.D.A. Howard Jackson, counsel to the Homicide Bureau of the D.A.s office.

Daniel Ignacio, 31, set fire to a baby carriage that was in the vestibule of his building on 86^th Street near 20^th Avenue on January 30, 2010. Ignacio lived on the second floor of the building and used a cigarette lighter to ignite a wet roll of toilet paper, which he threw into the stroller. He then went upstairs to his apartment. The structure erupted into flames shortly after, killing five.

Ignacio was convicted on five counts of murder in the second degree, one count of arson in the fourth degree, one count of assault in the first degree and nine counts of assault in the second degree. He faces 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Neil Firetog.

The landlords of the building were also charged in the incident because the building in which it took place was allegedly an illegally subdivided apartment building which lacked the required number of exits.

Vasilios Gerazounis, 69 and his son, Argyrios Gerazounis, 38, were charged with manslaughter in the second degree, criminally negligent homicide, perjury in the first degree, perjury in the third degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree and assault in the first degree. They could each face up to 25 years in jail.

Their case is awaiting trial and they are due in court on March 22.