I-Team 10 Investigation: Couple accused of setting fires to collect Red Cross relief funds
Posted at: 11/19/2009 5:10 PM | Updated at: 11/19/2009 5:26 PM
Two Rochester residents are charged tonight with setting house fires in the city and profiting on the good will of the American Red Cross.
Lamar Donald, 27 and Jeanetta Johnson,21 appared in federal court this afternoon to face arson related charges.
I-Team 10 has obtained an affidavit from special agent M. Dixon Robin with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. It states the two set fires at 602 Dewey Avenue on June 12, 2009 and 466 Driving Park Avenue on October 14, 2009.
The agent says Donald and Johnson then went to the Red Cross and received emergency assistance funds to replace clothing and other essential pesonal items.
In one instance, they received more than $700.
The cases came to light after police and fire investigators determined the fires to be similar in how they were started.
A confidential informant also provided information, including audiotaped admissions from the couple.
If convicted, the two could face five to 20 years in prison.
Donald was ordered detained after the arraignment and will return to court next week. Johnson was released on conditions and is scheduled for a court hearing in January.
For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website www.whec.com.
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