A former Middletown restaurant owner has pled guilty in federal court to arson, insurance fraud, gambling and extortion offenses. Federal authorities say he tried to burn down his business to collect insurance proceeds.
John A. Barile, 52, of East Hartford, in 2009 began having discussions about how to burn his way out of debt. A co-owner of Enzo’s Restaurant and Lounge, which was located on Main Street in Middletown, Barile on Jan. 9, 2010 set a fire in his restaurant after researching how to commit arson without being caught.
After the fire, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Barile sought payment from an insurance company for losses suffered as a result of the fire, and concealed his role in the fire from the insurance company and law enforcement. The insurance company ultimately paid $189,787.69 to settle the insurance claims related to the fire.
From that point on, according to federal authorities, Barile ran a sports book gambling business. In at least one instance, he used a taser to punish one bettor who owed him $50,000.
Barile is scheduled to be sentenced on May 6, 2016. He faces a mandatory minimum term of five years and a maximum term of 65 years.
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