PSP: Homeowner paid man, who paid man to torch Lansford home for insurance money in 2016
LANSFORD – Three people are facing felony charges eight years after State Police at Hazleton say money was exchanged to burn a house down for insurance money.
Benjamin Arnold, 52, of Ellicott City, Maryland; Richard Snyder, 53, of Coaldale, and David Argott, 46, of Frackville are facing felony arson, insurance fraud, and reckless burning charges, filed Tuesday.
The fire happened around 4am on Jan. 11, 2016 at 522/524 East Front Street in Lansford.
Troopers said firefighters from across the Panther Valley area battled the blaze and a State Police fire marshal was called in to investigate.
Lansford Police Sergeant Jack Soberick received information in February of 2016 that Snyder may have been involved in the fire.
In 2023, additional information was discovered.
Troopers said that a joint investigation between the State Police Hazleton Fire Marshal and Carbon County District Attorney’s Office found that Arnold, the owner of 524 East Front, paid Snyder $10,000 to burn the house down for the insurance money.
Snyder, in turn, paid Argott $5,000 to actually set the fire.
All three are facing felony arson endangering a person, arson endangering property, reckless burning, and insurance fraud charges.
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