Fraud Conspirators Collected $1M After Torching Cars, Homes

A Florida man was convicted by a federal jury in Richmond on Wednesday in a 15-year insurance fraud scheme involving at least 27 fires in Richmond, Henrico County and Florida. Verdon Taylor, 72, of Leesburg, was found guilty of conspiracy, wire fraud, use of fire to commit a federal felony, and witness tampering. Four co-defendants earlier pleaded guilty in the case. Authorities said insurance companies paid roughly $1 million in claims to conspirators for fires set in vehicles, mobile homes and rental properties. Vershawn Jackson, 39, and Marie Taylor, 54, both of Richmond; Eugenia Fleming, 57, of Victoria; and Sylvia Jackson, 59, of Tampa, Fla., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and each faces up to 20 years in prison.