WARREN, Mich. — The owner of commercial laundry Best Textile Services, Alexander Yfantidis, recently pleaded guilty to intentionally setting fire on May 2, 2011, to his Macomb County laundry facility to collect on an insurance policy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In court, Yfantidis admitted he destroyed the facility in order to make a fraudulent claim to his insurance company. He pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, and will pay restitution to those whose homes and personal properties were damaged by the explosion he caused.
“Committing any fraud scheme harms victims, but intentionally setting a fire creates a danger to public safety that far exceeds the financial loss,” says U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.
“As we know, arson for profit crimes have many victims. Mr. Yfantidis chose to break the law for his personal gain by putting community and firefighters at significant risk,” says Steven Bogdalek, special agent in charge with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “I would like to thank the ATF special agents, the Warren Fire Department and the United States Attorney’s office for their hard work and dedication in this investigation.”
Yfantidis’ sentencing was set for June 5.
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