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Written by: A. Smith
Published September 10, 2025 @ 8:46 AM ET
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – Federal charges have been unsealed against a Kennesaw man accused of helping set fire to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in downtown Atlanta during protests in 2020. The FBI says the fugitive may have changed his appearance and could be disguising himself in women’s clothing.
Ronald Scott Watson, 28, also known as Sarah Watson, Miranda Kyle, and Emily Smith, is charged with arson and destruction of government property. Authorities say Watson is still at large and should be considered armed and dangerous. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest.
Prosecutors said the charges stem from the night of July 25, 2020, when protesters gathered outside the ICE facility on Ted Turner Drive. Just before midnight, several masked individuals dressed in dark clothing broke through security fencing and vandalized the building.
Investigators said rioters threw rocks, cinder blocks, and modified fireworks, and also used Molotov cocktails and bottles of lighter fluid. The attack caused more than $78,000 in damage, according to court filings. Inside, agents discovered blood near a shattered window along with a lighter fluid bottle and an unexploded Molotov cocktail.
Although many of the vandals attempted to hide their identities, federal officials said Watson was identified through evidence tied to his January 2023 felony conviction in Oregon for assaulting a public safety officer.
Prosecutors also cited Watson’s social media activity before the attack, which included posts depicting violence against ICE agents. In one post, Watson shared an image of an officer about to be struck with a baseball bat. Other posts claimed he had “thrown bricks, done other things not to be mentioned, [and] doxxed people” as examples of “taking action.”
“The right to peacefully protest never excuses acts of violence, like smashing windows and attempting to set fire to a government building,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said.
“The First Amendment does not allow individuals to commit arson or destroy property,” added FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown.
Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank called the attack “an assault on the rule of law and the safety of our communities,” saying federal agents will “relentlessly pursue those who endanger lives and destroy public property.”
Officials said Watson has connections in both Atlanta and Portland, Oregon, and may be altering his appearance to avoid capture.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.