Arsonist sentenced to prison for fire that damaged Philadelphia record company building

Arsonist gets prison in Philly record company fire

PHILADELPHIA — A man has been sentenced to prison after drunkenly breaking into a famous Philadelphia recording company’s headquarters and starting a fire.

Twenty-eight-year-old Christopher Cimini was sentenced Friday to 1½ to 10 years in prison for the crime at Philadelphia International Records in February.

The label was home to Teddy Pendergrass, Patti LaBelle, Lou Rawls and the O’Jays. Sound of Philadelphia producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff lost much of their memorabilia to fire, smoke or water damage.

Cimini pleaded guilty in July to arson and related charges, although his attorney says he was too drunk to remember starting the fire.

Investigators say Cimini had a blood-alcohol content of 0.27 percent. He was rescued by firefighters.