North Carolina Officials Arrest 2 on Suspicion of Conspiracy

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Jim Long said state officials arrested two Laurinburg men on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson and insurance fraud.

Officials arrested William Angus McGirt, 71, and Franklin Lacy Britt Jr., 59, on June 6 and June 7 respectively.

Investigators with the North Carolina Department of Insurance allege that McGirt, who owns a rental property on Lincoln St. in Laurinburg, asked Britt to set fire to the property so he could collect on an insurance policy. Britt agreed, and then contacted a third man for assistance in setting the fire. The third man refused and instead contacted police.

“There were people living in that rental property — a single mom with a young baby,” Long said. “The consequences of a house fire could have been devastating to that family, not to mention the fact that insurance fraud is always a costly and despicable crime.”

McGirt is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit arson, two counts of solicitation to commit arson, one count of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and two counts of solicitation to commit insurance fraud. He was processed at the Scotland County Detention Center and placed under a $250,000 secured bond.

Britt is charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit arson, solicitation to commit arson, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and solicitation to commit insurance fraud. He was processed at the Scotland County Detention Center and released under a written promise to appear.

The Department of Insurance, the State Bureau of Investigation and the Laurinburg Police Department collaborated on the case.

Source: North Carolina Department of Insurance