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In yet another creative business venture, a 61 year old former Binghampton, NY, realtor is on his way to prison to serve a ten year sentence. James Insinga is heading to Club Fed after being convicted of running an arson ring that collected more than $400,000 in fraudulent claims payments. Insinga’s crimes du jour involved fires in New York’s Delaware, Otsego and Chenango counties, all intentional and for profit. While he is behind bars, he’ll be figuring out how to pay ordered restitution of $430,000.
He didn’t do it alone; he had five accomplices; Anthony Roefs (Port Charlotte, FL), Gabriel Bonacci and Joseph Bonacci (Sidney, NY), Pietro Basile (Elmira, NY), and Nadine Sieburt (Brick, NJ). The investigation commenced six years ago after a report from the Delaware County Sheriff’s office was filed with the Fraud Bureau. According to the report, Insinga had solicited an individual to purchase a home, furnish it, insure it and then burn it, providing very detailed “how to” information. In the Bonacci brothers burn, Gabriel was unable to keep up on the payments on an Insinga/Roefs held mortgage. So with some instructions from Insinga and some assistance from brother Joseph, Gabriel’s home just sort of accidentally caught fire and zero cash magically turned into $42,310.
It took six years of investigation to get the ringleader convicted and heading to his new home, but it finally happened. Attaboys go to the NY Insurance Department, the Delaware County Sheriff’s office (Karl Vagts!), the New York State Police, fire departments in Delaware, Otsego and Chenango counties, the US Attorney’s Office (Kevin Dooley!) and the Binghamton office of the FBI for their participation in the investigation and prosecution.
© Copyright 2007 The John Cooke Fraud Report