W. Va. Man Arrested on Insurance Fraud Charges

A Raleigh County was arrested May 4 and charged with first degree arson and insurance fraud after allegedly setting fire to his former residence.

Andrew B. Halstead, 51, and currently of Prosperity, allegedly burned down his then Wyoming County home in September 2005 and filed an insurance claim for damages that were deemed a total loss.

“Insurance fraud cases are very complex in nature and those involved in committing such illegal acts are typically involved in other types of crime as well,” Insurance Commissioner Jane L. Cline said. “The Offices of the Insurance Commissioner’s Fraud Unit will continue aggressively investigating and prosecuting any type of insurance fraud.”

Investigation in this case has been a joint effort with the West Virginia State Police Criminal Investigations Unit and its Beckley detachment and the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner’s Fraud Unit.

Source: West Virginia Insurance Commission