Missouri Woman Ordered to Pay $243K in Arson-for-Insurance Scheme

An Independence, Mo., woman was sentenced to 31/2 years in prison without parole for an arson and insurance fraud scheme.

Tina Shonk was also ordered to pay $242,717 in restitution to her victims and $62,364 to the government.

Shonk pleaded guilty in January to participating in a conspiracy to commit arson and wire fraud and one count of mail fraud.

Prosecutors say Shonk and another person set fire to a home she was about to be evicted from for past due rent and then made false claims for insurance.

She and another conspirator later moved into a different house and planned another arson fire but they were arrested before the fire was set.