Arson Fraud—Virginia

Amount: $1 Million

A federal jury in Richmond convicted a Florida man for participation in a fifteen-year insurance fraud scheme involving twenty-seven intentionally set fires in Virginia and Florida. The long running arson-for-profit scheme involved at least four other co-conspirators. The fraudsters would purchase cars or mobile homes at auction, or sign leases for rental properties, insure the cars, mobile homes, or rental properties, and then intentionally ignite the property in order to collect insurance money. The fraud began as early as 2000 and the last fire may have been set in November of 2016. The scheme was so intricate, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives became involved. The ring leader was found guilty last week of conspiracy, wire fraud, use of fire to commit a federal felony, and witness tampering. The four co-defendants have all recently pleaded guilty in the case.