ALBANY, NEW YORK – Marcasey Ventour, age 28, of Albany, New York, was sentenced July 17, 2026, to five years in prison for starting a fire at the Samuel S. Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albany. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office made the announcement.“Thanks to our partners at the Department of Veterans Affairs, this defendant will now spend the next five years in federal prison,” said First Assistant U.S.
Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “Mr. Ventour showed reckless disregard for both staff and the veterans receiving care when he started this fire, and now will be held accountable.”“This case underscores the VA OIG’s commitment to protecting veterans, VA employees, and federal property,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office.
“We will continue to pursue those who threaten the safety and integrity of VA facilities.”As part of his guilty plea, Ventour admitted to having started a fire in a restricted storage area that caused $77,490 in damage to the facility. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Ventour is also required to pay restitution and must serve a two-year term of post-release supervision. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General investigated the case.