A man, his ex-wife and two sons are accused of burning down two West Virginia homes and pocketing over $550,000 in insurance claims.
Windel Lester, his ex-wife Georgetta Lester, and his sons Gregory A. Lester and James Edward Lester, were indicted for money laundering and other charges.
The indictment claims the Lesters and others devised a scheme to defraud an insurer by buying vacant properties, insuring them and setting them on fire. They’re accused of submitting false insurance claims and collecting funds.
They’re also accused of laundering those funds through at least two banks, one of which Windel was on the board of directors.
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