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Phillip Michael Igyarto, 30, has been charged in connection to the vandalism of two Starbucks locations in Ashburn last May, and he was also linked to other businesses in the area.
An "intensive investigation" was launched earlier this year when pro-Hamas, anti-Israel, and anti-American graffiti was discovered six times at four Starbucks locations in Ashburn on May 3 and May 21, where the buildings were spray-painted with graphic words and symbols that were reported and later removed by store employees.
The hateful imagery was reported at businesses in the Ashbrook Marketplace Plaza, Broadlands Center Plaza, Pipeline Plaza, and One Loudoun shopping centers.
Investigators say that the Starbucks at Ashbrook Marketplace was tagged with:
- "FROM THE RIVER 2 THE SEA;"
- “ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY;”
- “FREE PALESTINE;”
- “VICTORY TO HAMAS;”
- “VICTORY TO THE RESISTANCE;
- “STARBUKS LOVES GENOCIDE” (sic).
Graffiti at the Starbucks at One Loudoun included:
- DEATH TO AMERIKA” (sic);
- “BOYCOTT DEATH TO CAPITALISM VICTORY TO HAMAS;”
- “VICTORY 2 PALE STINE” (sic);
- “FREE GAZA;”
- “SBUX LOVES GENO CIDE” (sic);
- “BOY COTT FASCISM FREE GAZA” (sic).
Igyarto was charged for incidents at Ashbrook Marketplace Plaza on May 3 and at One Loudoun on May 21.
Igyarto was arrested on Saturday, Nov. 2 by members of the Alexandria Police Department on charges that include two counts each of wearing a mask to conceal identity and destruction of property by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.
“In May, I called out these hateful actions and said there was no place for them in Loudoun County, and I repeat that call today,” Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said. “These were shameful acts by someone who wore a mask to conceal his identity then elude law enforcement for months.”
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