Viorel Pricop, 66, of Allen Park, Michigan, was last week found guilty by a federal jury of three counts of arson of a vehicle or property in interstate commerce. The conviction stems from a series of malicious acts where Pricop set fire to semi-truck trailers belonging to Swift Transportation, a Phoenix-based commercial trucking company.
Over an 8-day trial, evidence was presented that linked Pricop to fires at Swift-owned trailers parked at or near truck stops in Willcox and Holbrook, Arizona. According to the prosecution, Pricop’s spree involved setting at least 16 additional Swift Transportation semi-trailers on fire between October 2021 and September 2022 across multiple states.
Cellular data analysis revealed a specific device associated with Pricop was near cell towers around the time of the fires. His cellphone was also located in the vicinity of all three Arizona fires, along with incriminating items such as a gas torch, lighters, and fuel-soaked rags found in his vehicle.
Pricop was previously found guilty of six arsons in the Central District of California in 2024. United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker has set a November 13, 2025, sentencing hearing where Pricop faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a statutory maximum of 20 years for each count.
The ATF Albuquerque Field Office led the investigation, supported by the ATF Fire Research and Forensic Laboratories, Certified Fire Investigators, and Special Agents from the ATF National Cellular Analytics Program. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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