A Willoughby Hills couple has been sentenced for orchestrating a scheme to collect more than $2 million in insurance payouts by setting fire to insured homes in Cleveland.
Lonnie White, 48, received a sentence of 53 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $2,375,861 in restitution. His sentencing took place on January 23 after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses, and conspiracy to use fire in commission of a felony.
Lisa Ogletree, also 48 and White’s spouse, was sentenced on January 28 to five years of probation and 810 days of location-monitored home confinement. She pleaded guilty last August to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
“It’s traumatic for people to see a house in their neighborhood go up in flames, and these defendants shamelessly utilized devastating fires just to line their pockets with money,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Additionally, insurance companies paid out millions in claims—in good faith—only to learn that they were deceived by these fraudsters. We commend the outstanding efforts of the ATF agents on the case and their regional partners who spent countless hours connecting the dots which eventually led to justice being served.”
According to court documents, between 2013 and 2019 White and Ogletree acquired houses on Cleveland’s east side either directly or through others. They transferred ownership to nominal owners with fictitious renters before insuring the properties for large sums. The couple then arranged for the homes to be set on fire so that it would appear accidental and filed fraudulent insurance claims afterward.
Once insurance payments were issued for damages caused by the fires—which involved at least six incidents—the funds were distributed back to White and Ogletree via bank transfers for personal benefit as part of their ongoing scheme.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Cleveland Field Office led the investigation into the case. Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam J. Joines and Brian M. McDonough from the Northern District of Ohio.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office expressed gratitude toward several agencies that assisted with the investigation: Cleveland Fire Investigation Unit; Cuyahoga County Fusion Center; Ohio State Fire Marshal; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and its Office of Inspector General.
ATF investigates arson-related crimes nationwide. Anyone with information about an arson incident is encouraged to contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or visit www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips.
