Man wanted in UW horticulture building fire sentenced in China on drug making charges

BEIJING — A man wanted in the U.S. for his alleged role in the fire that destroyed the horticulture center at the University of Washington in 2001 has been sentenced in China for making illegal drugs, a court official said today.

By The Associated Press

BEIJING — A man wanted in the U.S. for his alleged role in the fire that destroyed the horticulture center at the University of Washington in 2001 has been sentenced in China for making illegal drugs, a court official said today.

Justin Franchi Solondz was given three years in prison Friday, according to the official at the intermediate court in Dali city, Yunnan province. He gave his family name as Zhao.

It was unclear what drugs Solondz was found guilty of producing.

The FBI office in Seattle lists Solondz among its "most wanted." Its Web site says the 2006 charges are related to his alleged role in 2001 with the Earth Liberation Front, a loose collections of radical environmentalists.

Along with being linked to the UW fire, Solondz also is accused of having a role in the destruction of several buildings in Oregon, according to federal officials.

It was not clear whether Solondz, 30, will be deported to face the those charges.

A spokesman with the U.S. Embassy in Beijing said today he was not able to confirm his deportation.

Calls to the FBI in Seattle and Washington were not immediately returned.