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Jan 8, 2009 9:58 pm US/Central
Feds: Fake Heart Attack Part Of Arson Plan
Reporting
Jack Fink
WEATHERFORD (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
A Weatherford businessman is facing federal charges after he allegedly tried to hire someone to burn down his restaurant and collect the insurance money.
Federal agents and Parker County investigators arrested Jorge Pinto and charged him with solicitation to commit arson.
Pinto was released from custody Thursday, but in court documents ATF agents reveal interesting details of the case.
The ATF says Pinto told them he had lost $400,000 and was struggling financially.
Agents claim Pinto said he wanted his restaurant to be a total loss and to make the fire look accidental. The ATF says Pinto even offered to pay for a blow torch and gas cans.
He's quoted as telling the ATF undercover agent that his insurance companies could pay him up to $500,000, and that he agreed to pay them up to ten percent of his proceeds.
"He was going to torch his restaurant and he thought insurance proceeds would get him out of his financial mess," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Helmer, "and it's only compounded them."
Court documents also say Pinto told undercover agents as an alibi, "he planned on being at home with his family and drunk during the night of the arson."
Pinto also allegedly said "he recently had heart bypass surgery and would fake a heart attack upon being notified of the arson."
At his restaurant Thursday, there was no evidence of Pinto's brewing legal troubles, just shock. Neighbors worried their businesses could have been lost as well.
Dorothy Glenn, who works at a neighboring business said, "It hurts to know you get to the point that something like this happens to you because you think that's the only way out, but it's not."
Jessica Houghton, who works at another neighboring business said of Pinto, "He's a nice guy, friendly, treats everyone like family."
We asked Pinto about that on his way out of federal court in Fort Worth Thursday, but he had no comment. Pinto's family surrounded and tried to shield him from our camera as they left the building.
If convicted, Pinto faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $125,000 fine. He's set to reappear in court later this month.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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