Guilty verdict in arson case

After nearly two full days of deliberations, jurors on Monday returned with a guilty verdict against the man accused of setting his southern Cameron County business on fire more than five years ago to collect an insurance claim.

John Floyd Carey Sr. was found guilty of arson; use of a fire to commit a felony (insurance fraud) and four counts of mail fraud. He'll be sentenced in May.

Monday afternoon's verdict came after jurors in U.S. Middle District Court, Williamsport, spent all day Friday discussing the case. Carey's trial lasted the better part of a month, as about four dozen witnesses took the stand to describe his actions before and after the Oct. 2001 fire, and to present physical evidence from the scene.

Carey and his now ex-wife operated Carey's Country Store in Sinnemahoning. Initially, Pa. State Police investigators did not file arson charges, but the insurance company contested Carey's claim that the fire was accidental in origin.

A Cameron County jury ruled in the insurance company's favor following a civil trial in Emporium. Carey was represented in that case by Port Allegany attorney Harold B. Fink.

Carey was later indicted on federal charges. Prosecutors alleged that he started the fire to collect on a $380,000 insurance policy. They said the Careys were having marital problems at the time and had defaulted on a $153,000 mortgage.

Among the incriminating evidence introduced by U.S. Attorney George Rocktashle

was testimony that the defendant had removed

valuables from the

property shortly before the fire was discovered.

Carey's lawyer, William Miele, claimed the prosecution was unable to prove that his client set the fire. He suggested that other parties who stood to benefit from the insurance payout may have set it.