Fraud of the Week: Trio Burned for Arson Scam

Three men who pled guilty for their respective involvement in an insurance fraud scam will face the consequences. The evident motivating factor behind the hoax, at least for one of the perpetrators, was financial distress. His money woes led him to recruit the others to set fire to a pickup truck to collect insurance money.

Ulster County Court ordered Anthony Waiters, a 23-year-old Kingston, New York man to serve five years’ probation for his part in igniting the blaze. He will also pay a $630 fine and complete ten days of community service. He pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and attempted arson in February.

The two other defendants in the case await sentencing: Mark Winkler, 36, the owner of the vehicle, and Anthony Latty, 44. Winkler earlier pleaded guilty to insurance fraud. Latty, who faces the most serious charges also pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and attempted arson. Both had not yet been sentenced at the time of this publication.