State Fire Marshal investigators say a late-May house fire in Arabi was no accident, but part of an alleged insurance scheme that has now led to three arrests and search warrants in multiple jurisdictions.
Three arrested and charged
According to the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office, 55-year-old Larry Crawford, 57-year-old Elbert Brown and 66-year-old Isaac Marshall were arrested on June 11 in connection with the case and are facing charges that include arson with intent to defraud, insurance fraud and criminal conspiracy, as reported by WGNO. Investigators say the arrests stem from a probe into the late-May blaze.
Where investigators focused
The State Fire Marshal's Office determined that the May 28 fire at 713 Perrin Drive in Arabi was intentionally set, the agency said. As part of the investigation, search warrants were executed at locations in Kenner, New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish, and officials say the case remains active. The agency maintains a public portal with information on arson investigations on its website, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office.
What the charges mean
The listed charges, which include arson with intent to defraud, insurance fraud and criminal conspiracy, typically signal that investigators believe the fire was set in order to obtain money and that more than one person may have coordinated the alleged scheme, as reported by WGNO. Local prosecutors have not yet released additional prosecutorial filings, and the investigation is ongoing.
The State Fire Marshal's Office said it will continue working with local law enforcement and asked anyone with information about the case to contact investigators. This story will be updated as new public records or official statements are released.
