Six, including Wichita man, indicted in arson, insurance fraud scheme

When committing arson, it’s best not to set your pants on fire. Yet a federal indictment unsealed Friday contends that’s just what happened to a man accused in an arson and insurance fraud scheme. The U.S. attorney’s office said John Stanley Wayne of Kansas City managed to set his own pants on fire while torching a house at 4901 Agnes Ave., forcing the 30-year-old to take the trousers off and leave them in the street as he ran away. It is not clear how much of a role that played in the Kansas City police investigation that led to criminal charges this week against Wayne and five other people. The indictment alleges that the scheme to insure rundown properties for more than they were worth and then to burn them for insurance payouts was led by Joshua Stamps, 26, of Independence.