Guilty Jury Verdict For Kouts Man

SOUTH BEND – Michael Thomas, 41 years old, of Kouts, Indiana, was found guilty after a four-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio, announced U. S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II.

According to documents in this case, a grand jury charged Thomas in a four count indictment alleging that Thomas devised a scheme to defraud insurance companies.  The indictment alleged that he and others took out insurance policies on several residences near North Judson, Indiana, that he owned, shortly before each residence burnt due to arson.  The charged fires occurred in 2004, 2010, 2012 and 2013.  He and others received over $600,000 from the insurance companies.  

Mr. Thomas will be sentenced on January 17, 2019. 

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Barrett.

###