Man Sentenced to Prison for $1 Million Arson Scheme

RICHMOND, Va. – A Sandston man was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for his role in a long-running arson for profit scheme.

According to court documents, Vershawn Jackson, 39, and co-conspirators participated in an insurance fraud scheme spanning 17 years across two states, in which the conspirators purchased cars or mobile homes at auction, or signed leases at rental properties, insured the property, and set fire to the insured property to collect insurance proceeds. In many instances, the time between the purchase of insurance and the fire was mere weeks or even days. Over the course of the scheme, defrauded insurance companies paid out over $1 million on claims by the conspirators.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Thomas L. Chittum, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, Henry Rosenbaum, Henrico County Fire Marshal, and David Creasey, Richmond Fire Marshal, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David V. Harbach, II, Michael C. Moore, and Janet Jin Ah Lee prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:17-cr-29.