Three Baltimore Area Residents Sentenced in Arson and Wire Fraud Scheme, Obstruction, and Witness Tampering

Set Three Residences On Fire in Baltimore and Pennsylvania

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Greg Ramsey, age 55, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 355 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for use of fire to commit wire fraud, malicious destruction of property by fire, and attempted witness tampering.  Ramsey also was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,081,606.90.  Judge Russell also sentenced Tyesha Roberts, age 29, of Baltimore, to five years of probation, for attempted obstruction of an official proceeding.  Roberts also was ordered to pay restitution of $1,000.  Judge Russell previously sentenced Ramsey’s co-conspirator Julia Teryaeva-Reed, age 33, a citizen of Ukraine, to 162 months for wire fraud, use of fire to commit a federal felony, and malicious destruction of real property by fire.

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Daniel L. Board Jr., Baltimore City Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, Baltimore City Fire Chief Niles R. Ford, PhD, Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci, United States Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Christopher Caruso, and Department of Homeland Security Special Agent in Charge Andre Watson.

According to Ramsey’s plea agreement, Ramsey and Teryaeva-Reed set fire to three separate residences between October 2012 and August 2013, two in Baltimore, and one in Weatherly, Pennsylvania. One fire spread to adjoining residences and did substantial damage. Two of the residences were occupied at the time. In addition, the pair set two vehicles on fire in August of 2013 in the area of Walbrook Ave. and N. Dukeland Street, which spread to a nearby church. The fires were set in an effort to obtain money from insurance companies for the claims related to the fire damage.

Teryaeva-Reed was initially charged by the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office and arrested at JFK airport as she was about to board a flight to Ukraine in 2013. In 2015, Ramsey planned to have a relative, co-defendant Tyesha Roberts, testify falsely for Teyaeva-Reed at trial for $2,000. Ramsey also plotted to assist in the murder of another witness. In November 2015, Ramsey produced a loaded .357 Ruger revolver, which was to be used for the murder, and he was arrested.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the ATF for its work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Maddox, Judson T. Mihok, and Zachary Myers, who prosecuted the case.