GREENBELT, Md. (AP) – The mastermind of an arson spree that destroyed or damaged dozens of homes under construction outside Washington was sentenced Monday to nearly 20 years behind bars. Two other men were also sent to prison.

Patrick Walsh, 22, was found guilty in September of conspiracy and for the Dec. 6, 2004, rampage at the well-to-do Hunters Brooke development. No one was injured.

U.S. District Judge Roger Titus described the arson as unparalleled in its scope as he sentenced Walsh to 19 years and seven months, the maximum.

Aaron Speed, 22, received eight years and four months, and Jeremy Parady, 21, got seven years and three months. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson.

Two other men are scheduled to go on trial next year.

The case had strong racial overtones: All five men arrested are white, the neighborhood was mostly black, and at least one defendant told investigators the fires were racially motivated.

But federal prosecutors did not file hate crime charges and ascribed various motives to the participants.

Prosecutors said Walsh wanted to gain attention for a gang he formed, while Speed, a security guard at the housing development, acted out of revenge because he believed his employer did not show enough sympathy after the death last year of his infant son.

All three defendants were ordered to help repay the $3.2 million in damage that the fires caused. Authorities had earlier estimated damage at $10 million, but that was lowered after the builder calculated the cost to rebuild the homes.

Ten houses were destroyed and 16 others were damaged. One family who already had moved in was forced to flee through the flames, though their home was unscathed.

The federal government entered the case on interstate commerce grounds because the houses were built by an out-of-state developer.

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