A Schoharie County, N.Y. couple claim to have extremely bad luck when it comes to homes and automobiles but their woes seem to be self-created. James E. Papas, 48, of Gilboa, N.Y. and his wife, Charlene L. Papas, both stand accused of insurance fraud and deliberately setting their possessions ablaze.
Suspicion surrounding a homeowners' claim filed by Mr. Papas for the loss of his mobile home led to an investigation by the New York State Insurance Department's Fraud Bureau and the state's Office of Fire Prevention and Control. The New York State Insurance Department reports that Mr. Papas told authorities he was ejected 35 feet from a bedroom window in his mobile home by the force of a propane explosion, which occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 6, 2009.
After the incident, Mr. Papas drove himself to Cobleskill Regional Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries. He later filed an insurance claim for the loss of the mobile home and received $2,000 through his homeowners' insurance policy.
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