Omaha Man Convicted of Arson, Mail and Wire Fraud

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Thomas Schropp, 52, of Omaha, Nebraska, was convicted today after a jury found him guilty of arson, mail and wire fraud. The Honorable Joseph F. Bataillon, Senior United States District Judge, presided over the trial that was held the past two weeks in United States District Court. Sentencing has been set for May 1, 2015. Mr. Schropp faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison for the arson conviction and up to 20 years for the mail and wire fraud convictions.

In the fall of 2008 the defendant hired an individual to burn down his business, PK Manufacturing in Nashville, Nebraska, and then subsequently filed an insurance claim for approximately $4,000,000.00 for the loss. Evidence presented at trial showed that PK Manufacturing, a manufacturer of agricultural sprayers, was insolvent and in dire financial straits at the time of the fire which included owing approximately $5,000,000.00 to various banks.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.