Dubois Woman Submitted Fraudulent Insurance Claim After Cozy Acres Furniture Store Fire

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Tara Finley, 40, of DuBois, Pa., pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Kim Gibson.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that, on April 11, 2007, a fire destroyed the Cozy Acres furniture store, located at 2906 Oklahoma Salem Road in DuBois, Pa. Cozy Acres was owned and operated by Tara Finley and her husband, Keven Finley. In connection with the insurance claim filed with Westfield Insurance, Tara Finley misrepresented that she did not know who set the fire, when in fact she knew it was her husband. As a result of the fraudulent insurance claim, Westfield paid out more than $2 million.

Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for Aug. 31, 2015, at 11 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Pennsylvania State Police, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Finley.