Viorel Pricop, Arson, California 2023

RIVERSIDE, California - A Michigan man was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for maliciously setting fires to six semi-trailers belonging to a major commercial trucking company in the Inland Empire and High Desert during a 10-month span.

Viorel Pricop, 66, of Allen Park, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes, who also ordered him to pay $648,384 in restitution.

At the conclusion of a 16-day trial, a jury on March 12 found Pricop guilty of six counts of arson of vehicle or property in interstate commerce. He has been in federal custody since October 2022.

"This defendant was given a second chance but chose to throw it away and go on a national campaign of revenge," said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. "By setting fire to trailer after trailer with the drivers inside the trucks, he recklessly put people’s lives at risk. Violent recidivist criminals such as this defendant will only be deterred with consequences and the sentence imposed today does just that."

Between December 2021 and September 2022, Pricop maliciously set fire to six semi-trailers belonging to Swift Transportation, a Phoenix-based commercial trucking company. Four of the arsons occurred in San Bernardino County (Newberry Springs, Ludlow, Barstow, and Hesperia) and two occurred in Riverside County (Coachella).

Viorel Pricop was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for six counts of arson of vehicle or property in interstate commerce. He must also pay $648,384 in restitution. The crime occurred between December 2021 and September 2022. Pricop was in federal custody since October 2022.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/detroit-area-man-sentenced-more-10-years-federal-prison-maliciously-setting-fires