Fraud of the Week
Commercial Property Arson – New York
Amount- Unknown
A restaurant owner faces 25 years to life for his conviction of arson, conspiracy, reckless endangerment, insurance fraud and tax fraud for deliberately setting his restaurant on fire in order to collect the insurance money. His niece made a plea agreement and testified against him at his trial. The business was in financial trouble and the insured instructed his niece how to set the fire. The fire was so intense that firefighters were put at grave risk of death. There is also the issue of underreported cash income as part of his state tax filings.
October 11, 2022 – At trial the jury convicted him of arson, conspiracy, reckless endangerment, insurance fraud and tax fraud charges. Sentencing is scheduled for December 19, 2022.
March 2, 2023 – The man has been sentenced to 22 and 1/3 years to life for arranging the fire that destroyed the restaurant and threatened the lives of his family. Prosecutors asked for the maximum sentence, saying that he thought the explosion in the restaurant would kill both his wife and niece and that the insurance proceeds would get him out of financial trouble. He was also found guilty of conspiracy, reckless endangerment, insurance fraud and tax fraud. The niece who set the fire will be sentenced for her role in the scheme – she pleaded guilty in a plea arrangement and testified against her uncle. He has promised to help her with immigration and marital problems for her role in the plan to burn the restaurant.
Originally published October 6, 2022