Man Charged With Hiring Another to Burn Down His Home for $1.3 Million in Insurance

A New York man has been arrested on charges of conspiracy, arson and insurance fraud for allegedly hiring a man to set fire to his Yonkers home and then attempting to collect more than $1.3 million from his home insurance policy.

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced the arrest and arraignment of Majid Haddad, aka Peter Haddad. Bail was set at $25,000 cash, $100,000 bond and $200,000 partially-secured bond, and the defendant was ordered to return to court on Jan. 10, 2025.

Prosecutors allege that between Feb. 20 and 28, 2021, Haddad instructed a man to apply gasoline to the inside of the his home with the intent to ignite a fire that would destroy the property. Days before the fire, prosecutors claim Haddad drove the man to a Lowe’s Home Improvement store, giving him money to purchase gasoline canisters, and to a gas station to purchase gasoline, then demonstrated how to ignite the fire. Haddad also provided money for transportation after completing the job, the police said.

The Yonkers Fire Department responded just before 1:00 a.m. on Feb. 28, 2021 to the single-family home on Odell Avenue that was fully engulfed in flames. They were able to contain the fire, which had caused an explosion. The house collapsed and was deemed a total loss, official reported.

Haddad then allegedly filed a home insurance claim with Adirondack Insurance Exchange and attempted to obtain at least $1.3 million for the loss of the home and its contents.

After an investigation by the Yonkers police and fire department’s investigation unit, the investigation was referred to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

The charges against Haddad are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.