Central New York Building Co-Owner Gets Prison in Arson

A federal judge has sentenced a 55-year-old central New York man to more than 18 years in prison for his role in the arson of a factory building he co-owned and the subsequent $4.2 million insurance claim.

U.S. District Court Judge Norman Mordue on Friday also ordered Jeffrey Truman to pay more than $548,000 in restitution to the Erie Insurance Co.

Authorities say Truman and two partners bought the former Oneida Casket Co. factory buildings in Oneida in 2005 for $175,000. On Nov. 12, 2006, five days before an insurance policy was to lapse, the buildings were destroyed by fire.

A jury found Truman helped commit the arson and subsequently tried to defraud the insurance company with his claim.