N.Y. Woman Receives Prison Sentence for Arson Fraud

The NYSID announced that Victoria Walczak, of Warsaw, New York, has received a 2 to 6 year prison sentence from the Genesee County Court for arson. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $32,943.57 to two insurers, Country Way and United Frontier.

N.Y. Superintendent of Insurance Gregory Serio along with Genesee County District Attorney Lawrence Friedman and Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha announced that Walczak had been arrested on Oct. 18, 2002 and charged with Arson, Insurance Fraud, and Falsifying Business Records.

“She admitted that on June 25, 2000 she set her half of a duplex house on fire while five occupants were asleep in the other half of the duplex,” said the announcement. “Everyone escaped the fire unharmed. Walczak pled guilty to Arson in the Third Degree, in Genesee County Court and has been free on bail until sentencing yesterday.”

She was ordered to pay restitution to the insurance carriers who insured both the duplex house and the occupants in the other half of the duplex home. Walczak’s bail was revoked and she was returned to the Genesee County Jail to await transfer to the New York State Department of Correctional Services.

The bulletin also noted that “Walczak’s boyfriend, Michael Puzan, was reportedly charged with Fraud and Attempted Grand Larceny in two unrelated fraud cases, and his case is still pending.”