Orleans Man Sentenced to 6 Years Imprisonment for Arson

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DAMIAN LANDRY, age 43, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana was sentenced today by U. S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon to six years (72 months) imprisonment for his role in the arson of his house and the filing of a false fire insurance claim, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Lemmon ordered Landry to pay $91,139.80 in restitution to the fire insurance company and imposed three (3) years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment, during which time the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.

According to court documents, in June, 2010, LANDRY pled guilty admitting that he and his co-defendants David Samuels and Charles Moss, concocted an insurance fraud scheme wherein they would burn the house owned by LANDRY and his wife for the insurance money. On December 2, 2002, with LANDRY'S knowledge, Charles Moss and David Samuels burned the house and LANDRY initiated his claim for loss to the house and for his personal property.

Co-defendants Samuels and Moss were convicted on February 21, 2011 following a trial. They are awaiting sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Tony Gordon Sanders.