RIVERSIDE, CA – A 66-year-old Michigan man, Viorel Pricop of Allen Park, has been convicted by a federal jury of a calculated arson spree targeting semi-trailers belonging to Swift Transportation, a major commercial trucking company. Pricop maliciously set fire to six trailers in California’s Inland Empire and High Desert over a ten-month period, a rampage authorities now believe was fueled by personal vendetta.
The evidence, presented during a grueling 16-day trial, revealed Pricop systematically targeted Swift Transportation trailers parked at or near truck stops in San Bernardino and Riverside counties between December 2021 and September 2022. The fires, primarily focused on trailer tires, occurred in Newberry Springs, Ludlow, Barstow, Hesperia, and Coachella. Pricop, already in federal custody since October 2022, now faces serious consequences for his actions. He was found guilty on six counts of arson of vehicle or property in interstate commerce.
But the California fires represent only a fraction of Pricop’s alleged criminal activity. An affidavit filed in the case details at least 18 additional arsons targeting Swift Transportation trailers in other states, stretching from Barstow, California, to McCalla, Alabama. Most of these incidents occurred along the heavily trafficked Interstate 10 and Interstate 40 corridors. Federal charges related to these fires have already been filed in the District of New Mexico and the District of Arizona, painting a picture of a man deliberately and repeatedly endangering lives and property across multiple states.
U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada minced no words, describing Pricop’s actions as a “rampage of retaliation.” Estrada emphasized that Pricop had been given a second chance after a previous crime but instead chose a “reckless and dangerous path.” The prosecution successfully argued that Pricop wasn’t simply committing random acts of vandalism, but deliberately targeting a specific company, suggesting a motive rooted in personal grievance. The U.S. Attorney’s office intends to see Pricop held fully accountable for the damage and danger he caused.
Investigators painstakingly pieced together the case, meticulously examining fire scenes, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing countless hours of video footage. A key break came with the discovery of a pattern: similar methods used to ignite the fires, targeting the same areas of the trailers, and occurring in the dead of night. Cell tower data revealed a commercial tractor-style truck’s navigation device consistently connected to towers near the fire scenes around the time of the incidents. Further investigation linked the device and a cellphone to Viorel Pricop, solidifying the case against him.
“We have methodically worked each of the fire scenes… to help us solve these arson cases,” said Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Phoenix Field Division. The ATF, alongside the New Mexico State Fire Marshal Randy Varela, highlighted the importance of interagency cooperation in bringing Pricop to justice. Swift Transportation also contributed by hiring a fire investigation consultant who helped identify the consistent methods used in the attacks. The investigation serves as a stark reminder of the potential for significant damage and the dedication required to combat such deliberate acts of violence.
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