Arson—West Virginia

Amount: $580,000

This week, two men pleaded guilty in federal court for a scheme to commit insurance fraud by arson. In the Spring of 2012, the two fraudsters purchased a house in Mercer County for $38,000. They insured the property for $300,000 and set the house on fire using unscented candle oil and cardboard. The fraudsters, with the help of some others, filed false claims for the house. The proceeds were collected and divided to all of the people involved in the scheme. Because this scheme was so successful, the fraudsters purchased a house for $100,000 and insured it for over $400,000. Several other individuals provided funds for the purchase. The next month, the fraudsters burned the house down, using unscented candle oil and cardboard. While the mastermind fraudster was out of town, for an alibi, the other fraudsters burned the house. When he returned, the fraudster filed a claim for the loss of the house, as well as for lists of false contents. They collected over $280,000 in insurance proceeds, which were divided amongst all of the contributing fraudsters. The main duo are set to be sentenced on May 30, 2018.