ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – The man charged with setting fire to his own business pleads guilty in federal court Tuesday.
James Purifoy, 51, was indicted in May 2025 for the January 2023 arson at 15th and Chris, 201 15th Avenue. He previously pleaded not guilty in the case.
The fire at the former burger joint broke out around 8 p.m. Jan. 22, 2023, with reports of flames coming out of the building on Rockford’s south side. Firefighters said they found heavy fire pushing from the back of the building which was not open for business at the time. Crews were able to get the blaze under control before it spread to a nearby food truck.
Fire officials estimated damages to the building were around $100,000 and an arson investigator was called in to look into the case.
Days after the fire, Purifoy’s attorney released a statement saying Purifoy was prepping food for his food truck when he was knocked unconscious by three people and they set the restaurant on fire. The lawyer claimed Purifoy woke up during the blaze, crawled out of the restaurant and later received treatment at a local hospital.
In February 2024, the former restaurant was demolished. At that time, Purifoy and his attorney claimed he was attacked by members of a drug cartel and left to die the night of the fire. An online fundraiser was also started on Purifoy’s behalf, raising more than $10,000.
Purifoy owned the business for 10 years prior to the fire and was once celebrated in the community for turning his life around after he spent a decade in prison.
Purifoy has been held at the Winnebago County jail in connection with a 2024 felony DUI charge. Winnebago County court records show Purifoy is expected back in court in that case on Thursday, Jan. 8, for a status hearing.
He is due back in federal court April 13.
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