Restaurant Owner, Niece Face Prison for Arson, Insurance Fraud

A New York restaurant owner and his nephew’s wife are facing up to 25 years to life in prison after being charged with first degree arson.

Zef Gjurashaj, of Newburgh, and his nephew’s wife, Marina Gjurashaj, of Yonkers, were indicted by the Orange County Grand Jury and charged with crimes including arson in the first degree, conspiracy in the second degree, insurance fraud in the second degree, tax fraud in the fifth degree and related offenses.

The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired with each other to intentionally burn down Andiamo’s Restaurant in September of 2017. It alleged that Zef, who operated the restaurant in the fall of 2017, knew that the business was struggling financially and decided to burn it for insurance purposes.

Approximately three weeks before the fire, Zef hired Marina to work at the restaurant. The investigation into the fire revealed that on September 6, 2017, Marina intentionally set fire to the building for the financial benefit of her uncle. Beginning in December 2017, Zef presented to his insurance company a fraudulent proof of loss seeking payment for damage caused by the fire.

In support of the fraudulent proof of loss, Zef submitted further fraudulent documents to the insurance company through 2018. It is alleged that on two occasions in 2018, Zef testified falsely during an examination under oath conducted by the insurance company regarding observations of the scene of the fire.

The Town of Newburgh Police were assisted in the investigation of the fire by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York State Department of Financial Services, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

The defendants were arrested on November 27, 2021, and were remanded without bail to the Orange County Jail where they remain. Both defendants face 25 years to life in prison on the top charge of arson in the first degree.

“The utter disregard for human life and property exhibited in this case is appalling,” said Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler in a press release issued by his office. “The defendants’ selfish actions in this case were allegedly motivated by pure greed.

The case is being prosecuted by special counsel to the District Attorney Stewart Rosenwasser. This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the state of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: Orange County District Attorney’s Office

Topics Fraud