Viorel Pricop, a 66-year-old resident of Allen Park, Michigan, was sentenced today to 121 months in federal prison for his involvement in a series of arson attacks targeting commercial truck trailers.
The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes, who also ordered Pricop to pay $648,384 in restitution to the trucking company.
Pricop was convicted in March on six counts of arson of a vehicle or property in interstate commerce.
The jury's verdict came after a 16-day trial where evidence was presented showing Pricop intentionally set fire to six semi-trailers owned by a major commercial trucking company across the Inland Empire and High Desert regions over a 10-month period.
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The arsons took place between 2021 and 2022, with Pricop targeting trailers parked at fuel stations or rest areas. In some instances, the truck drivers were still inside the vehicles when the fires were set, highlighting the reckless endangerment of human life caused by Pricop's actions.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada expressed satisfaction with the sentence, emphasizing the need to deter violent recidivist criminals like Pricop. "This defendant was given a second chance but chose to throw it away and go on a national campaign of revenge," said Estrada. "By setting fire to trailer after trailer with the drivers inside the trucks, he recklessly put people’s lives at risk."
The sentencing marks the culmination of a thorough investigation and prosecution, bringing justice to the trucking company and its drivers who were impacted by Pricop's destructive actions. The case also serves as a warning to others who might contemplate similar acts of arson, underscoring the serious consequences and severe penalties that await those who engage in such criminal behavior.
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