Michael Thomas, Mail Fraud, Indiana 2023

A Kouts man has been sentenced to serve time in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud insurance companies by arson fires.

Michael Thomas, 42, was sentenced to 90 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

Thomas was charged in 2018 with four counts of mail fraud for his role in the scheme, which involved setting fires to mobile homes in a mobile home park located in North Judson, Indiana.

According to documents in the case, Thomas and others executed the scheme from 2004 through 2013, setting fires to mobile homes and submitting insurance claims immediately after the fires, resulting in insurance payouts totaling $616,749.58.

The first fire occurred at 2691 Julia Drive on September 17, 2004, a mobile home owned and occupied by Thomas.

In November 2010, several more fires occurred, including a home and garage owned by Thomas and his wife at 5081 South 275 West Street, a home at 5326 South A Street, and two unoccupied mobile homes not owned by Thomas at 2729 West Airstream Court and 5370 Holiday Street.

Thomas was also ordered to pay restitution to State Farm Insurance Company in the amount of $426,227.31 and Foremost Insurance Company in the amount of $115,522.27.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the Indiana State Fire Marshal and the Indiana State Police.

The case was tried by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Barrett, and later handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Hays.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndin/pr/kouts-indiana-man-sentenced