WHITE PLAINS – Three Long Island residents pled guilty in White Plains federal court on charges in connection with a fire set at a bar in Swan Lake.
Nicholas Motta, 59, and Dominic Motta, 43, both of Islandia, and Anthony Perso, plotted to torch the former Kilcoin’s bar owned by the Mottas with the goal of obtaining more than $100,000 in insurance proceeds.
The Mottas pled guilty on Tuesday to attempted mail fraud in the insurance fraud scheme. Perso, 32, of Medford, New York, and Perso pled guilty to attempted mail fraud.
The three traveled in the early morning hours of February 10, 2010 during a blizzard, to the bar to set it on fire. The insurance company detected the arson and ultimately denied Dominic Motta’s claim when he repeatedly failed to respond to requests from the insurance company that he answer questions about the fire under oath.
US Attorney Preet Bharara praised the investigative work of the FBI, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County Police and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office.
