A Venice, Illinois man is facing a long stretch behind bars after admitting to torching properties for insurance payouts. Feds say Rufis A. Jefferson copped to the heinous crime spree, pleading guilty to an inferno of 14 federal felony charges, including conspiracy and mail and wire fraud.
In a tell-all with a judge last Thursday, 47-year-old Jefferson confessed to getting paid by a kin to set her St. Louis apartment ablaze on New Year's Eve 2022, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois. But the plot thickens, with the arsonist revealing his plans to reduce two more Illinois buildings to cinders for more ill-gotten gains. An ATF snitch was on hand to record planning sessions, thankfully, the Granite City and Venice properties were spared the fiery fate.
U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe pulled no punches, letting rip "intentionally igniting residential buildings to file insurance claims for damages and collect benefits is committing fraud," as cited by her office. She drove the point home that feds are on a mission to stamp out these "hazardous crimes."
The apartment inferno, which took place at Spanish Lake Apartments, triggered a payout of over $30,000 from the unnamed family member's insurance company. Evette B. Osuegbu, 61, of Granite City, is being dragged into the limelight, too, facing the same set of 14 federal charges, per the indictment. Remember, an indictment isn't a guilty verdict—defendants ride the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise in the eyes of the law.
ATF's Bernard Hansen didn't mince words, asserting "Arson is a dangerous act of violence.” He vowed that this kind of skulduggery "will not be tolerated," painting the agency as guardians ensuring "that your community remains a safe place," as reported in the Justice Department's release. Arson aside, wire fraud and the other charges could see Jefferson locked up for up to 20 years for each count. The culprit is slated for sentencing on April 25, 2024.
